Chelsea transfer news: Edinson Cavani, Nicolo Barella, Callum Wilson, Gonzalo Higuain

Paris Saint-Germain and Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani is in Chelsea’s sights as they look to solve their goal-scoring problems.

With only 38 goals so far in this season’s Premier League (the lowest among the top six), the Blues need some bite up front. The Daily Express says Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is “keen” on Cavani, who was the most expensive signing in French history when he signed for PSG from Napoli six years ago in a £60m deal.

New challenge

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The Express says that Chelsea “are lining up a dramatic £50m bid” for the frontman and to fund it they will “offload six or seven players this month”.

The 31-year-old Cavani has scored 324 goals in 519 appearances for clubs and country in an illustrious career and rumours have been growing that he thinks the time is right for a new challenge while he still has two or three years at the top.

Barella to be a Blue?

The Express also claims that the Blues are “interested” in finalising a deal for Italian international midfielder Nicolo Barella.

Currently with Cagliari, the 21-year-old is one of the most highly regarded talents in Italy and the Express says that Chelsea want to strike a similar deal to the one they agreed with Dortmund last week for Christian Pulisic.

That would mean Barella signing terms this month but moving to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Wilson won’t join

The Daily Mirror says that Chelsea’s hopes of landing Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson are fading.

The 26-year-old striker, who has scored nine Premier League goals for the Cherries this season, is said to have caught Sarri’s eye but apparently the south coast club are “ready to dig in their heels” and knock back the Blues’ advances.

Having just loaned Jermain Defoe to Rangers in an 18-month deal, offloading Wilson would leave Bournemouth short of experienced strikers, despite the arrival of Dominic Solanke from Liverpool last week.

Higuain for Morata?

With a deal for Wilson looking unlikely and with Cavani by no means a nailed-on signing, might Chelsea turn to Gonzalo Higuain?

TalkSPORT claims that the Argentina forward is a person of interest to Sarri and he may look to tempt AC Milan with a swap proposition. Higuain is currently on loan at Milan from Juventus.

A potential swap deal would entail giving Milan the unsettled Alvaro Morata in return for Higuain, who would join Chelsea on a loan basis until the end of the season, “with the Blues having the option of making the deal permanent in the summer”.

Farewell Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas flew to France yesterday to discuss terms with Monaco but while it seems likely he will join the struggling Ligue 1 outfit on a two-and-a-half-year deal there is still much to negotiate.

The Daily Mirror says that the Blues want £10m for the Spanish midfielder but Monaco “want to pay less”.

Nonetheless it’s expected that a deal will be thrashed out today or tomorrow and the Mirror claims Fabregas could make his debut for Thierry Henry’s side against Marseille on Sunday.