Chelsea transfer news: Nicolas Pepe, Callum Wilson, Leon Bailey, Nabil Fekir
Blues and Manchester City prepare for battle to sign Lille forward Pepe
Pepe is a priority
Chelsea have a fight on their hands for Lille forward Nicolas Pepe, with Manchester City also making the 23-year-old a priority signing for next season.
The Ivory Coast international “is in sensational form this season”, with eight goals and seven assists in 12 league appearances, says The Sun - hence the interest from Stamford Bridge and the Etihad.
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Pep Guardiola is believed to have sent his scouts to France to check out the free-scoring frontman in case Raheem Sterling decides not to sign a new deal.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have been stalking the Lille star for weeks and according to French media, manager Maurizio Sarri is “interested in a move”.
Sarri watching Wilson
Callum Wilson has “fired himself onto Chelsea’s radar” with his red-hot performances this season for Bournemouth, says the Daily Mirror.
The newspaper reports that after his seven goals helped propel the Cherries into the top six of the Premier League, Wilson is being eyed up by Chelsea’s scouts, with the Blues set to swoop for him “as early as January”.
The 26-year-old is also being tipped for inclusion in the England squad, to be announced by Gareth Southgate tomorrow.
Blues tracking Bailey
Chelsea are tailing Bayer Leverkusen ace Leon Bailey, reports the Daily Star, which claims that the Blues are lining up a January move for the Jamaican winger.
The 21-year-old is believed to have been approached by several Premier League clubs last summer, including Chelsea, but decided to stay loyal to Bayer.
But German media report that there is still interest, with Chelsea and Manchester United having “both scouted Bailey on several occasions this season”.
Bayern join race for Fekir
The German press is also reporting that Bayern Munich are eyeing a move for Lyon ace Nabil Fekir.
Regarded as one of the form players in European football, the 25-year-old has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, but now Bayern are seriously interested.
The attacking midfielder has also been suggested as a Liverpool target but according to the German media, it will come down to a transfer tug-of-war between Chelsea and Bayern.
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