Chelsea transfer news: Conte 'eyeing up Sergio Aguero to replace Diego Costa'

Chelsea transfer news: Inter ready to cash in on Brozovic

25 October

He's been on the radar of Chelsea, and plenty of other clubs, for months and according to website Caughtoffside Marcelo Brozovic could finally be heading to Stamford Bridge.

Italian outlet Calciomercato reports that Inter Milan are "considering" selling Brozovic in the new year now that his relationship with manager Frank de Boer has disintegrated beyond repair. Inter chiefs are ready to cash in on the Croatian with an asking price believed to be in the region of £17.8m.

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But Chelsea will face competition from Tottenham who are also hot on Brozovic's heels, and Inter are reportedly hoping a bidding war will break out in January to force up the transfer.

Meanwhile Goal.com claims that Juventus are still interested in Oscar and "could test the water with an approach" during the January transfer window. According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Turin club wanted to take the Brazilian in the summer but failed to get a deal sorted. However, a second offer will be tabled in the new year with the Italian club confident that they will lure Oscar with the " the promise of regular starts" in Serie A.

Chelsea transfer news: Bayern Munich set to win Lukaku race

24 October

Chelsea look like losing out on Romelu Lukaku with The Sun reporting that Bayern Munich are "planning a German record £65m bid" for the Belgian hitman, who left Stamford Bridge for Everton in 2014.

Chelsea were strongly linked with a move to bring the unsettled Everton back to London in the summer but the Sun says that Bayern's head of recruitment, Michael Reschke, has been in England to "personally run a check on the Everton striker". Finding everything to his satisfaction, Reschke has told Bayern coach - and former Chelsea gaffer - Carlo Ancelotti to make his move in the new year.

The 23-year-old Lukaku comes with a hefty £65m price tag but that won't be an obstacle to the ambitious German club.

Meanwhile the Sun also says that Cesc Fabregas could soon be a thing of the past at Stamford Bridge with the Spaniard on the radar of Manchester City. It's reported that Pep Guardiola - who worked with Fabregas at Barcelona - is increasingly concerned "by a lack of creativity in midfield" at the Etihad and is ready to make a "shock £20m" bid for the Blue. Apparently City are prepared to improve Fabregas’ current £160k-a-week deal and will also dangle before the Spaniard the offer of a lucrative move to sister club New York City a few years down the line.

Chelsea transfer news: Joe Hart to replace Thibaut Courtois?

21 October

Joe Hart has become the talk of the town following his goalkeeping heroics for England last week against Slovenia, and as a result, says The Sun, both Everton and Chelsea are chasing the 29-year-old's signature.

Hart's life was turned upside down in August when new Manchester City gaffer Pep Guardiola made it plain that Hart did not feature in his plans, but he's now back on his feet and loving life at Italian outfit Torino. Unbeaten in their last five league games with Hart conceding just three goals, Torino have indicated that they'd like to turn the England star's loan deal into something more permanent but have conceded they haven't the finances to compete with the bigger clubs when it comes to meeting Hart's £120,000-a-week wages.

That could open the door for Chelsea, who are not only after a new keeper but want as many English players as possible to conform with FA rules. Last month Chelsea's current shotstopper Thibaut Courtois caused something of a storm when he said he dreamed of returning to Spain - to either Real or Atletico Madrid - and the Blues see Hart as the man to bring in to replace the wantaway Belgian.

If the Daily Star is to be believed Chelsea will be "sending scouts" to watch Middlesbrough's Ben Gibson in action this weekend. It's the centre-half's unenviable task to try and contain free-scoring Arsenal on Saturday and Blues boss Antonio Conte has ordered his spies to the Emirates to see how Gibson copes with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil. Should the 23-year-old England Under-21 defender cope adequately then the Star says "a January raid" from Conte is likely.

Chelsea transfer news: Cesc Fabregas house hunting in Italy

19 October

Cesc Fabregas could soon be hanging out with Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney on the shores of Lake Como in Italy claims The Sun.

Apparently Fabregas is "eyeing up a new pad" in northern Italy ahead of his expected move to AC Milan in the new year. According to the Sun, the property is just "a stone's throw from AC Milan's training ground", near the town of Como, which is home to celebs including Clooney.

Milan's chief executive Marco Fassone and sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli were at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to see Chelsea destroy Leicester 3-0, and though Fabregas was missing with injury, it's reported that the pair thrashed out the basics of a deal for the Spanish midfielder.

However, the reports have been denied by Fabregas's wife, Daniella Semaan, reports Metro. She even went as far as accusing the media of making up stories.

Meanwhile the Blues are believed to be one of the four clubs chasing Thiago Silva. The 32-year-old PSG defender is said to be ready to leave the French capital for one final lucrative deal before hanging up his boots. Talksport says that the Brazilian, who has just over 18 months to run on his current deal, is likely to be released in January or, at the latest, June, by Paris Saint-Germain as they seek to cash in on the Brazil defender rather than let him leave on a free transfer.

In conversation with French tabloid Le Parisien, Silva's agent, Paulo Tonietto, explained: "It is very important for everyone... that things are clear in December. If PSG do not want to make an extension offer between now and then, we will look to leave."

Tonietto added that he had already had offers from three or four big clubs. Talksport claims that Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United interested, and that the Blues are keener than most given their defensive woes this season.

But there could be another defender on the radar at Stamford Bridge. The Daily Mirror claims that Real Madrid ace Pepe is considering joining the Blues because of what the paper describes as an "ugly contract stand-off".

The 33-year-old Portugal defender is a free agent at the end of the season and although Real Madrid have offered him a one-year contract extension the Mirror says his "advisers are holding out for a two year deal." If that is not forthcoming Pepe is likely to leave and rumours from Spain indicate that Chelsea are "interested" in signing the Portuguese blocker who was at the heart of his country's European Championship triumph last summer.

Chelsea transfer news: January move for defender Doria?

18 October

Brazilian centre-back Doria has admitted it would be a dream come true to play for Chelsea.

The 21-year-old Marseille defender has been scouted by Chelsea in recent weeks, reports the Daily Star, and rumours are growing that the Stamford Bridge club will table a bid for the South American stopper in the new year.

Asked about the gossip by French broadcaster Canal Plus, Doria replied: "Yes, I heard about [it] through social media." Pressed on if there was any truth to the rumours, he said: "I don't know... but that should not stop one from dreaming, they are one of biggest clubs in Europe. I am happy about these rumours, but what is most important is to continue playing well."

Doria, who joined Marseille from Botafogo in 2014, has one Brazil cap to his name and the Star says that Chelsea will continue to monitor his progress on the Mediterranean coast before deciding in January whether to maker the French club an offer.

Chelsea transfer news: £35m deal for Liverpool target Ruben Neves

17 October

Back on track after crushing Leicester 3-0 on Saturday, the Blues are now said to be eyeing a move for Porto playmaker Ruben Neves.

Described by Goal.com as a " sensation", the 19-year-old has been on Liverpool's radar recently with Reds gaffer Jurgen Klopp said to be an admirer. But according to the more respectable elements of the Portuguese press, Neves is also now being stalked by Chelsea and Antonio Conte "will attempt to sign him in January".

Though Liverpool were thought to be in pole position to land Neves, Goal.com says that Chelsea are ready to offer £24m "and a player in exchange for the £35m-rated Neves".

So desperate are the Blues to bag the teenager ahead of Liverpool that they are pressing Neves and Porto for an answer to their proposition "by the first week of November" with a view to make the move official in the new year.

Chelsea's interest in Leonardo Bonucci has clearly rattled Juventus and they are now in talks with the defender with a view to offering the 27-year-old a juicy new contract. Reporting the story first carried by Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, website Ninetyminutes.com says that Juventus chief Giuseppe Marotta is anxious to keep the Blues at bay and that's why Bonucci is in talks over his future.

"We are working to improve their contracts, also to maintain balance in the dressing room," explained Marotta, adding that Paulo Dybala was also likely to extend his stay in Turin. "We want a cohesive group without star names who earn much more than the others."

Chelsea transfer news: Blues back in for Antonio Rudiger

14 October

Another day and another defender has been linked to Stamford Bridge. Earlier this week Alessio Romagnoli and Sergio Ramos were both said to be in the sights of under-pressure Blues boss Antonio Conte but now the Daily Star claims that Roma defender Antonio Rudiger "could be on the move" to London in the new year.

The Blues have managed only two clean sheets in nine games this season, and whoever is in charge come 2017 they are likely to want to reinforce the defence, which has not been strengthened by the unexpected return of David Luiz.

It's said that Chelsea are weighing up a bid for the 11-times capped Germany international, and it's not the first time Rudiger has been mooted as a Blues target. But last time they were on the brink of move the 23-year-old tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament. Rudiger is still in rehab but the Star says that he'll soon be back in action and provided he shows no ill-effect from the injury, Chelsea will likely come calling in January.

But beware Blues, for the paper claims that Paris Saint-Germain "have also earmarked the former Stuttgart star" and are prepared to outbid the west London side if necessary.