Chelsea have already been busy this summer, and soon they will intensify their efforts to sign a new centre-back.
Chelsea have explored different options on the market in search of the right reinforcement for their defence. Marc Guéhi has long been a target for the Blues, but now he seems to be slipping out of their hands. Liverpool are currently in the driver’s seat to sign him, making it an almost hopeless case for Chelsea.
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Four players on Chelsea’s stopper list
Sources close to the situation have informed CaughtOffside that one of the names on Chelsea’s list is Piero Hincapié, but Bayer Leverkusen have made it clear that they will not give a discount, as the Ecuadorian stopper has a release clause of €60 million.
Another option is Jorrel Hato from Ajax. The young Dutch player is highly valued and is still closely followed by the Blues. However, Arsenal have recently had positive talks with the player and could become a strong contender for his signature.
Chelsea are also very interested in Ousmane Diomande. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca considers him one of the best reinforcements they can make to strengthen the defence. The Blues are trying to negotiate with Sporting CP in the hope of reducing the player’s release clause. Sporting are open to considering an offer slightly below the clause, but Chelsea prefer to pay less and instead include bonuses to reach a fair price. Real Madrid and Newcastle are also among the clubs interested in him.
Finally, Chelsea have also asked Nottingham Forest for updated information about Murillo. The Brazilian stopper was closely followed by the club back in January, but the price tag is very high – believed to be over €80 million.
It remains to be seen who Chelsea will make a concrete attempt to sign. Anyone on the list would be a good reinforcement for Enzo Maresca’s squad, which will be significantly strengthened before the 2025/26 season starts in August.
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