Chelsea Transfer News Today: Osimhen deal TRIGGERED, Lukaku AGREEMENT, Cucurella PRAISED

Updated: 12 Jul 2024 06:36 BST
6 min read

Victor Osimhen, Chelsea, Napoli, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

The latest Chelsea football transfer news updates, with the hottest updates on all the potential new signings and sales at Stamford Bridge, including Victor Osimhen, Nico Williams and Romelu Lukaku.

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Osimhen transfer unblocked

Victor Osimhen could very soon be on the move, with the Napoli striker, who has been a major target for Chelsea for several months, set to complete a move as part of a complicated domino of transfers.

The Blues have found themselves priced out of a deal for the 25-year-old after Napoli demanded €130 million for the Nigeria attacker, and they are set to miss out on one of the most exciting targets on the market.

Current ETV

ETV Range

€53.3M - €88.9M

Alvaro Morata’s move to AC Milan from Atletico Madrid has been “unblocked”, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. In turn, PSG’s Randal Kolo-Muani is wanted by Atleti as his replacement, and this deal is set to free up the Ligue 1 giants to move for Osimhen.

Chelsea, meanwhile, stand to benefit as Romelu Lukaku is set to leave for Napoli, with the striker’s dream to hook up with Antonio Conte again.

Lukaku agrees terms with Napoli

The operation taking Lukaku to Napoli should prove a straightforward one for Chelsea to broker.

Di Marzio has stated that the Belgium international is primed to move back to Serie A with Conte.

It is claimed that the former Manchester United and Inter striker has already agreed a wage with Napoli and will move there should Chelsea find an agreement with the 2022/23 Serie A champions.

Current ETV

ETV Range

€26.4M - €43.9M

Marc Cucurella praised

BBC pundit Micah Richards has heaped praise on Spain defender Marc Cucurella for his performances at Euro 2024, and criticised Chelsea for the 25-year-old's poor form since moving to Stamford Bridge.

He told The Rest is Football Podcast: "Marc Cucurella is a massive talking point. At Brighton he was in a system, he could play as one of three centre-backs or at full-back and would always go forward and join in attacks.

“He looked like a really good player. He went to Chelsea and because it was so disorganised, he became a bit of a laughing stock. But in this tournament he’s been one of the best full-backs."

Samu Omorodion breaks silence on Chelsea interest

Chelsea have not given up on signing Samu Omorodion, and the young Atletico Madrid striker has welcomed the interest.

Speaking to Marca, he was asked about the Blues’ €40m bid: “These are transfer issues and I don’t control those things. There are prices that are set, and whether they are exorbitant or not, I don’t know, but I don’t get involved in that. I don’t care.

“I always want to get the best for myself and right now I’m focused on Atletico.”

© IMAGO - Samu Omorodion while on loan at Alaves

He added, more ominously for Chelsea: “It’s a dream for me to play alongside Antoine Griezmann, Rodrigo De Paul and Koke. A year ago, I saw them on TV and I said I wish I could play with people like that. It’s the result of all the work I’ve done and I’m happy.

“I noticed that the people of Atlético supported me a lot, I also received a lot of support from the club, they told me to stay calm, that they trusted me.”

Chelsea could lose another exciting prospect

Earlier on in the summer, talented England youth international Ryan McAidoo agreed to join Manchester City after coming through the ranks at Chelsea and representing the club's U18 side last season.

Last week, news of Rio Ngumoha, who had trained at Chelsea's first team despite only being 15 years old, dominated the headlines. He too has seemingly moved onto pastures new with Liverpool set to win the race for his signature.

Now according to BBC journalist Nizaar Kinsella, another Chelsea academy prospect is weighing up his future at the club. Kinsella reports that Sam Rak-Sakyi is yet to decide his future after his contract expired at Chelsea in June.

Nico Williams in transfer hint?

Athletic Club presented their new kit on Wednesday, but there was one notable face missing from the advertising: Nico Williams, their undisputed star man.

Current ETV

ETV Range

€34.2M - €57M

This has set tongues wagging. The Spain Euro 2024 star has been linked to a string of major clubs over the course of recent months, with Arsenal, Barcelona and, of course, Chelsea among his potential destinations.

His absence from the advertising campaign of Athletic would seem to suggest that the club expect someone to meet his €58 million release clause, and while Barcelona are favourites, Chelsea are certainly still in the race as the Blaugrana struggle to raise funds to reach that fee.

However, Athletic have released a statement in response to the plethora of rumours surrounding their star player.

Renato Veiga deal imminent

Basel defender Renato Veiga has completed his medical in London ahead of his transfer to Chelsea.

The 20-year-old has agreed a deal until 2032 and will sign for a fee of around €14 million, with his contract set to be signed today, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea not pursuing Dani Olmo

FootballTransfers understands that Chelsea are not among the teams who will make a move for Dani Olmo, with the RB Leipzig star having a release clause of €60 million which is set to expire next week.

Olmo has been a standout performer at Euro 2024 and has attracted the attention of a number of Premier League teams looking to take advantage of his buyout.

However, despite Chelsea admiring Olmo for a long time, the club will not look to make a bid for the Spaniard.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich are both interested, however.