Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Chelsea BOMB, Man Utd's NEW Rashford, Kvaratskhelia DONE

Tom Weber

• Updated: 14 Jan 2025 13:49 GMT
• 11 min read

Fabrizio Romano has provided some massive updates on the biggest transfer stories from around Europe, including news on a sensational 'swap' deal between Chelsea and Bayern, the latest on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Man Utd's potential replacement for Marcus Rashford.

Chelsea to offload trio

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that three Chelsea players are expected to depart the club shortly, with Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka and Axel Disasi on the way out.

"Renato Veiga wants to leave, not because he's unhappy at Chelsea but because he wants to play as a centre-back. He believes his position is centre-back and this is crucial, according to the player, to be at the World Cup 2026 with the Portugal national team.

"There is interest from Borussia Dortmund. There is interest also from two more clubs, but Borussia Dortmund are pushing in this moment. For Veiga, they have an agreement with the player. So he said yes to Borussia Dortmund, but Chelsea have been very clear.

"No loan, at least today. I don't know what's going to happen next. But for today, Chelsea say no to a loan, only a permanent transfer for Veiga. So up to Borussia Dortmund. Now, they want around €30 million. Then there could be the chance to negotiate the price, of course.

READ MORE: Exclusive - Arsenal’s first Vlahovic bid rejected by Juventus

"Carney Chukwuemeka also expected to leave Chelsea in this window. My information today is that Chelsea are opening the doors, in this case, for a loan of Chukwuemeka, who has the possibility to go to sister club Strasbourg, but also Dortmund.

"Also in this case Dortmund are in contact with the agents of the player, in contact with Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund believe that Carney could be an ideal candidate for the midfield. Chelsea are open to a loan, but not a buy option. So, a straight loan, six months, cover the salary, pay for the loan and get the player back to London.

"And then Axel Disasi. Disasi today spoke to the manager, and my information is that Disasi could be out of Chelsea's squad [vs Bournemouth], ready to leave the club in the January transfer window. So let's see what happens in terms of movements.

"There were links with Juventus, but I'm told that in this moment Chelsea have not received any approach from Juventus for Disasi. But in general, there is a strong possibility for him to go."

READ MORE: Premier League January transfers 2025 - All the Done Deals

Villa won't entertain Duran sale

Next up, Romano dropped an update on the rumours surrounding Aston Villa star Jhon Duran and how his future will be impacted by the signing of Donyell Malen.

"Busy day at Aston Villa. They signed Donny Malen from Dortmund. Verbal agreement, of course, waiting for the medical. The contract signing, about €23m plus €3m add-ons. Many people thinking that this was opening the doors to Jhon Duran to go to Paris Saint-Germain.

"I can confirm to you the interest of PSG. PSG are strongly interested in Duran. PSG met with his agents twice already, and they like the player. But Aston Villa, official sources from the club, say that the player is not for sale in January. They don't want to sell Duran. They trust Duran. They extended his contract a few months ago, till 2030. So Aston Villa have no intention to negotiate for Duran in January.

Man Utd's Rashford replacement?

Romano then revealed Man Utd's interest in RB Salzburg winger Nene Dorgeles, who plays primarily on the left wing, so in the same position as wantaway superstar Marcus Rashford.

"A player they have on the list, according to my information, for the present and future - so could be January, could be summer, I'm not sure that it's going to happen now, but could be a target for the present and future - is Nene Dorgeles. He's a winger, 22 years old, playing for Salzburg.

"He's a player that Man Utd have been monitoring with their scouts in the last four or five months, sending their people several times to follow this boy. They like him. They believe he has a very good potential. They believe he's quite underrated on the market.

"And so Manchester United made contact to understand how much the player is worth, how much is the price, how they can do the deal. So Man United are interested. Let's see if they can strike a deal with Salzburg. Let's see if they can reach an agreement with the player."

Milan or Saudi for Walker?

Man City captain Kyle Walker has asked to leave the club and, according to Romano, the race to sign him is coming down to AC Milan and Saudi clubs.

"Kyle Walker is going to leave Man City now. That's the plan, looking for options. There is interest from Saudi already from last summer. They considered Walker as a strong candidate for the Saudi Pro League. But Milan are on it.

"AC Milan had contacts with the agents of the player, with the player himself, in terms of contract, in terms of project. So discussions are ongoing between Milan and Walker. Let's see what the player is going to decide and also if they can reach an agreement with Milan.

"That's going to be an interesting situation because Walker wants to leave now and play abroad. This is what Pep Guardiola said, so don't expect any move in the Premier League."

Ancelotti safe at Real Madrid

Romano has also corroborated reports from Spain that assert that Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti does not have to fear about his job despite the embarrassing 5-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercup.

"It was a bad game with Barcelona, a bad loss for Real Madrid, a fantastic night for Barcelona. But it's important to say that Real Madrid sources confirmed that they continue, at least today - I don't know what's going to happen in the next weeks - but as of today, the indication of Real Madrid is that they continue with Carlo Ancelotti.

Of course, they are all disappointed at Real Madrid. You are losing a final, you are losing a trophy against Barcelona in a bad way. So not the best day possible for Real Madrid, of course. But the position of the club, the position of the board, the position of the management is very clear.

"They want to continue with Ancelotti. They are backing and supporting Ancelotti. And so that's the point at the moment. There are no negotiations with other coaches.

"I told you several times, and I keep telling you about their appreciation, especially from Florentino Perez, for Xabi Alonso. But this is a topic we'll discuss in the next months, in the summer."

Another Man City done deal

After agreeing a deal for Abdukodir Khusanov, Man City have also agreed a transfer with Palmeiras for wonderkid defender Vitor Reis.

"Vitor Reis is going to be the most expensive centre-back in the history of Brazilian football. Because there is an agreement in principle under the reported fee of €40m. It's going to be around 35m. Man City and Palmeiras will prepare all the documents in Brazil and complete the final details of the deal.

"Agreement done for a player who was wanted by several clubs in Europe, including in England, including in Spain. Several clubs tried to sign him. For example, Brighton had a bid rejected of €25m plus €5m. It was around 10 days ago. And now Manchester City, with a mission in Brazil, closed the deal."

Kvaratskhelia set for PSG move

In addition to Reis, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will also be on the move in a blockbuster deal, with the Georgian set to join PSG from Napoli.

"The agreement between PSG and Napoli is almost done. Verbally, it's done, from what I'm told. €70m, in excess of €70m. Now, Napoli and PSG will prepare all the documents, will check all the details of the deal, the payment terms. There are some small things to clarify.

"Remember, the salary of Kvaratskhelia will be four or five times more what he's earning at Napoli, and so everything ready. Napoli are already working on the replacement, and so for sure, Kvaratskhelia is expected to complete his move."

Chelsea swap bombshell

On Tuesday night, Romano dropped the bombshell news that Chelsea had opened talks with Bayern Munich over Mathys Tel. Later, it was revealed that the Bundesliga side had enquired about Christopher Nkunku regarding an informal 'swap' deal.

"Chelsea are working on a deal to sign Mathys Tel from Bayern. It's not an easy one, let me start with this. Why is it not an easy one? Because around day three or two of January, Tel had a long talk with Bayern manager Vincent Kompany when they had more than three, four proposals to go on loan with several possibilities.

"And in that case, Tel and Kompany in a long talk decided, okay, let's continue together. Tel wants to stay at Bayern. Kompany wants to trust him. So they decided to continue together. No loan, no distractions. Let's go for it.

"Then what happens? Bayern receive an approach from Chelsea for Tel. And in that moment, it's different because it's for a potential permanent transfer. At the same time, when the two clubs start to talk, Bayern enquired about the possibility to sign Christopher Nkunku.

"So it's important to say that it's not Chelsea offering Nkunku to Bayern. Chelsea didn't do that. It's Bayern being interested in Nkunku. And my information is that also Nkunku is really interested and open on joining Bayern.

"It's something he's seriously considering because he wants to play more, because he believes at Chelsea there is not enough space. So Nkunku is being professional, respectful, but at the same time, he wants to play more. Bayern are offering this possibility, and so Nkunku is keen on a move to Bayern.

"The contract is not going to be a problem in terms of financials for Nkunku and Bayern. The point is to see how to make the deal work because it depends really on Tel. What does Tel want to do? If he wants to go to Chelsea, they can get to an agreement, Chelsea and Bayern, for this potential swap.

"Now it really depends on what Tel wants to do and also on the value of the players. Chelsea and Bayern need to discuss how much they want for each player. So we are at the early stages. We are not at advanced stages. It's not something imminent or close, but it's something concrete."

Araujo truth

Romano also provided on Juventus' ongoing pursuit of Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo. "It's important to say that Ronald Araujo's situation remains open. So, Araujo's situation is based on what Barcelona, as a club, want to do.

"Because Juventus will attack again. Juventus will push again. There is the injury of Inigo Martinez. Barca won the Super Cup. So for sure, the atmosphere is different. But Juventus will try again. Juventus already had direct contact with Barcelona and direct contact with the player.

"And when they had direct contact with the player, they were given encouragement to discuss. So they didn't find closed doors. 'No, I'm going to stay.' No, they found open doors from Araujo. And so Juventus will insist.

"Then, it's important to see what Barcelona want to do. If Barcelona want to say, 'okay, the player is not for sale in January, he stays here, see you in the summer,' or if Barcelona open doors to a negotiation. So it's really important to understand what Barca, as a club, decide to do because the Araujo story for Juventus is still concrete in the sense that Juventus want to try."

Saudi interest in Nunez confirmed

Finally, Romano confirmed Anfield Watch's reporting that Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has Saudi suitors. "What I can confirm at the moment is only that interest from Saudi in Darwin Nunez is genuine.

"So there is interest from Saudi Pro League in Nunez. There have been conversations to understand the situation of Darwin, the price tag and all these sort of things. So for sure there is interest. For sure there is something around Darwin in terms of interest and contacts, let's say like this, from Saudi.

"But at the moment there is not something advanced in terms of negotiations, something concrete in terms of negotiations. And we have to respect Liverpool in this story. Darwin is an important player. They spent important money on Darwin. So before saying that Liverpool are selling Nunez, there are still plenty of things to do."