Hunting Hummels
Chelsea and Tottenham are battling not only for London bragging rights in the Premier League but also for Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels.
The Daily Mirror reports that the English capital rivals have both “held talks with Mats Hummels’ agent” in preparation for a potential January move.
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The German centre-half has fallen out of favour at Bayern under boss Niko Kovac, and the newspaper claims that Hummels is “looking to move on as soon as possible”.
Citing German daily Bild, the Mirror says that the star’s agent, Marc Kosicke, has recently jetted into London to hold initial talks with Chelsea and Spurs.
The 30-year-old has two years left on his current deal at the Allianz Arena and Bayern are believed to be willing to sell him - but only in return for “a fairly significant fee”.
Maurizio Sarri and Mauricio Pochettino are both interested, but the Blues boss is in the driving seat as Tottenham’s new stadium build has left the side strapped for cash.
Say goodbye to Sandro
Chelsea’s hopes of landing Juventus left-back Alex Sandro have evaporated, after he signed a new long-term deal with the Serie A champions yesterday.
The Blues had been tailing the Brazil international for a while, as had Manchester United, but Sandro’s new deal will keep him in Turin until 2023.
According to Goal.com, the new contract will net Sandro in the region of £4m a season, and presumably make him forget all about Stamford Bridge.
Icardi’s future uncertain
The Daily Express claims that both Chelsea and Man Utd are also interested in Mauro Icardi, who has “repeatedly been linked with a move away from Inter Milan in recent months”.
Bayern Munich are another side said to be monitoring the 25-year-old striker, who is allegedly unhappy that Inter are 14 points behind leaders Juventus in Serie A and facing Europa League football after being knocked out of the Champions League.
Go for Gonzalo
However, Metro reports that the striker being targeted by Maurizio Sarri is not Icardi but rather Gonzalo Higuain. The Chelsea manager is reportedly “happy for the club to sell Alvaro Morata” to make way for Higuain.
Sarri and the 31-year-old Argentine know each other from their time together at Napoli, and according to Sky Italia, the Blues boss wants to bring him to the Bridge next month. Higuain is currently on loan at AC Milan from Juventus but is said to be unsettled.
According to the newspaper, Chelsea want to “buy out Higuain’s loan deal and sign him on a temporary deal until the end of the season with an option to buy”.
In return, Morata would join AC Milan on similar terms.
Chelsea join Under chase
Chelsea are the latest club to be linked to Roma winger Cengiz Under, reports Football.London, with suggestions in the Italian press that the Blues and Arsenal “will do battle” in the January transfer window.
Bayern Munich are also said to be stalking the Turkey international, who is regarded as an ideal replacement for Arjen Robben, but it’s “understood that the 21-year-old would prefer a move to the Premier League”.
