Chelsea make IMPROVED offer for Nico Williams alternative

Tom Weber

Updated: 18 Jan 2025 11:40 GMT
3 min read

Chelsea have submitted an improved offer for Yeremay Hernandez, according to Spanish media.

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The Blues have been heavily linked with the Deportivo la Coruna winger over the past week. Hernandez has impressed for the LaLiga 2 side and firmly put his name on the map for bigger suitors.

Earlier this week, Chelsea had a €10 million bid knocked back by Deportivo despite also being open to the possibility of including players in the deal and offering a significant sell-on percentage.

Hernandez has a €20m release clause and the Spanish side insists that it must be triggered for them to do business, although there are suggestions in the Spanish media that they may be willing to sell for a fee below that release clause.

Either way, Deportivo are reluctant to lose their star winger as they find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle and need all the help they can get. However, Hernandez's suitors know that he will be available at the right price.

Chelsea submit new offer

According to Relevo, Chelsea have submitted an improved €12m offer for the 22-year-old after seeing their initial approach rejected. However, it is unclear if it will be enough for Deportivo to sell.

Hernandez is said to be calm about the situation and he is not actively looking to leave, but there are many clubs vying for his signature. In addition to Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas' Como and Napoli also hold an interest.

In the event of a club matching Deportivo's demands, the Spanish side would like to keep the player on loan until the end of the season, but it has been suggested that Chelsea are planning for Hernandez to see out the campaign at BlueCo affiliate Strasbourg should they manage to strike a deal.

Chelsea are scouring the winger market following Mykhailo Mudryk's provisional doping suspension and have enquired about the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens, while they also still hold an interest in Nico Williams.

Hernandez would be a much cheaper option than all of them, and while he may not be ready for the elite level just yet, he boasts plenty of the same skills as Williams, potentially making him a viable alternative. Hernandez is "a dribbler, cheeky, brilliant and with a sharp edge," according to Relevo.