Chelsea Transfer News Today: Lukaku UNLOCKS Osimhen, Sterling BOMB, Felix & Gallagher OFFICIAL

Tom Weber

• Updated: 21 Aug 2024 18:39 BST
• 4 min read

All the latest Chelsea transfer news, including updates on Victor Osimhen, Romelu Lukaku, Raheem Sterling and Armando Broja.

The transfer saga surrounding Joao Felix and Conor Gallagher has officially come to a satisfactory conclusion at least as far as Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are concerned. Optimism over this deal has been minuscule in the Blues fanbase.

Gallagher has officially joined Atletico Madrid for €42 million after being pushed out of his boyhood club, while Chelsea have announced the signing of Felix for €52m, with the attacker signing a six-year deal with the option for a further season.

READ MORE: Latest Chelsea transfer news

Lukaku exit close

Chelsea are also closing in on an agreement with Napoli over the transfer of Romelu Lukaku. Talks have progressed in recent days and Italian club chiefs will be in London in the next 24 hours to try and finalise the move.

Lukaku has already agreed terms with Napoli. Crucially, this transfer could finally unlock the Victor Osimhen situation. So far, Chelsea continue to insist on a loan, which is not a course of action the Nigerian striker approves of.

However, it is difficult to believe that the topic of Osimhen won't come up during the impending face-to-face talks over Lukaku. Moreover, Chelsea may change their tune regarding a permanent move once the Lukaku funds are secured. With more exits on the verge of materialising, the Blues will surely have the necessary money to spend.

READ MORE: Chelsea top scorers 2024/25

Broja set to join Ipswich

One of these exits that is close to materialising is Armando Broja moving to Ipswich Town. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League new boys have struck a potentially very lucrative deal with Chelsea.

The Blues are set to bank €35m from the homegrown's departure, but there is one potential problem. The move will initially be a loan deal with a purchase option.

That option can become a buy obligation, but only in the event of the Tractor Boys managing to stay in the Premier League this season. So Chelsea will be crossing their fingers that Ipswich can secure survival in their first season back in the top flight in over 20 years.

Fellow academy graduate Bashir Humphreys, meanwhile, has completed a loan move to Championship side Burnley, with the deal set to become permanent next summer.

Sterling bombshell

In more outgoing news, Enzo Maresca has publically confirmed that Raheem Sterling is surplus to requirements after his Man City omission at the weekend. “I just try to be honest,” Maresca said. "I spoke with Raheem before the Man City game, I said he will struggle to get minutes with us.

"With Chilly [Ben Chilwell], I said he is a lovely guy but because of his position, he will struggle. I am not saying Raheem is not a good player but I prefer different kinds of wingers – that’s why. I didn't see Raheem [after the match when he asked for clarification through his representatives].

"If I sit with Raheem, I will tell him the exact same things I told him. Everything was clear. It is not my problem [how long a player’s contract is], I'm here to take decisions. I'm not thinking about how many years on the contract, it's not my job.

"If they have a six-year contract but I don't like them? They can have a 20-year contract, I don't care. I'm working with 21/22 players. I am not working with 42 players. More than 15 players are training apart and not with the team."

According to David Ornstein, Sterling has accepted Chelsea's decision and is exploring his options for a permanent move away. Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, has stated that the Blues are '100%' certain that the 29-year-old will leave before the window shuts."