Chelsea Transfer News Today: €100m star WANTED, Olise THREAT, Maatsen DONE

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 19 Jun 2024 12:45 CDT
• 7 min read

Chelsea have turned their attentions towards RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda after having had a €40 million bid for Atletico Madrid forward Samu Omorodion knocked back.

TeamTalk reports that the Blues are monitoring the 24-year-old Openda, with manager Enzo Maresca particularly impressed by his versatility.

Previously, RB Leipzig had put a €100m price tag on the forward, which would suggest a deal is unlikely given the financial constraints on the Blues.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

STATS

Loïs Openda

F (CL), AM (C)

RB Leipzig

Loïs Openda

F (CL), AM (C)

RB Leipzig

All Tournaments

2023/24

• 45

  Games

• 28

  Goals

• 7

  Assists

View all stats

Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, rejected a €40m offer from Chelsea for talented forward Omorodion.

The 20-year-old scored nine goals on loan at Alaves last season and has emerged as a key target for Chelsea, with the west London club looking to sign a new number nine ahead of Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge.

According to DiMarzio, the Blues have seen a €40m bid knocked back by Atleti, who are keen to retain his services.

READ MORE: Who is Samu Omorodion? The Atletico Madrid star wanted by Chelsea

While Ben Jacobs says that Atleti haven't told Chelsea what they expect by way of a transfer fee, Di Marzio reports that they want to strike a deal around €80m.

Meanwhile, Omorodion is quite happy at Atletico Madrid, according to a report in the Telegraph.

READ MORE: Latest Chelsea transfer rumours

Liverpool threaten Olise deal

Chelsea are currently prioritising a move for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, but they face competition from numerous top European clubs.

FootballTransfers has exclusively revealed Liverpool have entered the race to sign the France U23 winger, yet Mohamed Salah's presence at the club is liable to cause a problem as he fears a lack of playing time.

Meanwhile, the Blues have received permission to speak to the 22-year-old, according to The Athletic, however Newcastle United, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Manchester City are also in the running to sign the Frenchman.

The Athletic has revealed that Olise is currently Chelsea’s main priority, which is why their pursuit of a new striker has quietened down.

Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran remains a target, but a move for Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke is extremely unlikely due to his €77 million (£65m) release clause.

Cole Palmer is expected to play as a No.10 next season, with Olise regarded as Chelsea’s dream right winger.

Aston Villa land Maatsen

Early on Wednesday, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Aston Villa were really pushing to secure the signature of Ian Maatsen, while Borussia Dortmund also remained keen on the left-back.

Later on, David Ornstein of The Athletic broke the news that an agreement with Villa had been reached. The two clubs have settled on a fee north of his expired €40m+ release clause and Maatsen has agreed terms on a six-year contract.

Kepa solution hinges on Real Madrid keeper

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is out of the picture at Chelsea and was sent on loan to Real Madrid last summer yet uncertainty continues to cloud the Spaniard as he returns to the club.

Another loan deal could be on the cards, according to Relevo, which indicates Madrid are willing to take him back on loan if Andriy Lunin is sold.

The Ukraine keeper has hardly put himself in the spotlight with a poor display against Romania at Euro 2024, however.

Current ETV

Kepa Arrizabalaga

GK

Real Madrid

Kepa Arrizabalaga

GK

Real Madrid

€13.4M

ETV Range

€10.1M - €16.8M

View full profile

Nicolas Jackson to leave?

Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson is reportedly considering a summer exit after just one year at the club.

The 22-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge for €37 million last year, but he is already unsettled and is open to leaving following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure.

That is according to TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook, who has reported that Jackson is unhappy with Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Pochettino and is now considering his future in west London as a result.

Atletico Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Jackson, although Diego Simeone’s side are also keen on Girona’s Artem Dovbyk after his stellar 2023-24 campaign.

Juventus interested in Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke played his way into Chelsea’s preferred starting XI during the latter stages of last season, but the England U21 international could be set to leave the Blues this summer.

Enzo Maresca’s side are extremely interested in signing Olise, as mentioned, and he could lose his first-team place as a result.

Juventus have expressed their desire to sign Madueke, according to Tuttosport (via Football Italia), as they look to back Thiago Motta in the summer transfer window. Madueke will reportedly be available for around €30 million.

Karim Adeyemi, Edon Zhegrova, Patrick Wimmer and Alexis Saelemaekers have been listed as alternatives to Madueke.

The Athletic have disputed claims that Madueke will leave Chelsea, however.

Chelsea to miss out on Pedro Lima

Sport Recife right-back Pedro Lima is on the verge of joining Wolverhampton Wanderers after Gary O’Neil’s side hijacked BlueCo’s deal for the Brazilian.

Lima was expected to join Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg for an initial €7m, but the 17-year-old will now join Wolves, with his current club confirming the move on social media.

Chelsea’s interest in Lima was first exclusively reported by The Transfers Podcast, in conjunction with FootballTransfers, but the Blues look set to miss out on his signature.

Ipswich want Omari Hutchinson

Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Ipswich Town and he played a key role in their promotion back to the Premier League.

Kieran McKenna is now keen to purchase the Jamaica international on a permanent deal, according to The Athletic.

Hutchinson has also been linked with a move to the Bundesliga and the Eredivisie as Chelsea consider a sale.

Julian Alvarez update

Man City forward Julian Alvarez has been linked with a sensational move to Chelsea since the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign, but the Blues have not lodged a bid for the Argentine, as per Fabrizio Romano.

The transfer expert has also added that Paris Saint-Germain are currently the most interested club in signing Alvarez as they begin life without Kylian Mbappe.

However, Man City have no intention of selling Alvarez this summer.

Andrey Santos’ future

Andrey Santos is due to return to Chelsea’s first-team next season, with The Athletic revealing that he will play a key role under Maresca last week.

However, they have now reported that a return to Strasbourg on loan is on the cards. Santos is still expected to be involved in Chelsea’s first-team squad next year, but he could rejoin the Ligue 1 club on loan.