Chelsea transfer news: Philippe Coutinho, Eden Hazard, Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain
Barcelona playmaker Coutinho is lined up to replace Real Madrid-bound Hazard
Chelsea’s sorry showing against Arsenal on Saturday has increased their desire to sign Barcelona and Brazil star Philippe Coutinho.
Beaten 2-0 by the Gunners at the Emirates, the Chelsea players were subjected to an astonishing broadside in the post-match press conference from their boss Maurizio Sarri.
Describing himself as “really angry” with his side’s lethargic display, the Italian continued: “This defeat was due to our mentality, more than anything else. This is something I can’t accept. This group of players are extremely difficult to motivate.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Coutinho on the radar
Consequently, says the Daily Express, Chelsea have asked Barcelona to “keep them in touch” with any plans they have to offload Coutinho.
The Spanish giants paid Liverpool £142m for the Brazilian playmaker last January but the Express claims that his dream move to the Camp Nou has “turned into a nightmare” and that his future under coach Ernesto Valverde is now being questioned.
The paper says that Barca are believed to be “willing to sell” Coutinho in order to fund the re-signing of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain. They would want at least £100m for Coutinho and that’s a price Chelsea are apparently willing to pay.
Hazard for 100 million
Is the reason that Chelsea have their eye on Coutinho the knowledge that they’re set to lose Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer?
The Spanish publication Marca certainly thinks so. The paper says the Belgian forward will wait until the end of the season “before forcing a move”.
Marca says the Blues are set to negotiate with Real Madrid at the end of the season and “€100m [£88.5m] is the asking price set by Chelsea”. The Spanish outfit will try and bring that price down a little by reminding Chelsea that Hazard will only have one year left on his contract by the time negotiations begin.
Morata to Atletico
Alvaro Morata is no longer a Blue, reports talkSPORT. The radio broadcaster says that he has “completed a move” to Atletico Madrid. His departure will make room in the dressing room for Gonzalo Higuain, who has been left out of AC Milan’s squad to face Genoa this evening, all but confirming his move to Stamford Bridge.
The Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Morata will return to Madrid on loan and the Spanish outfit will have “an option to buy the striker for €55m [£48.55m] at the end of the season”.
Higuain to Stamford Bridge
Having enjoyed a good working relationship with the striker at Napoli, Sarri has made no secret of his wish to bring Higuain to London on loan until the end of the season. The Argentine striker is currently on loan at AC Milan from parent club Juventus.
TalkSPORT says that negotiations are still ongoing between Chelsea and Juve but nothing is expected to derail the move.
In omitting Higuain from the squad for tonight’s match, AC Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso said: “I accept his decision [to leave]. Surely he could have done more and maybe we could have helped him fit in better.”
Premier League results
- Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 Leicester City 3
- AFC Bournemouth 2 West Ham United 0
- Liverpool 4 Crystal Palace 3
- Manchester United 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 1
- Newcastle United 3 Cardiff City 0
- Southampton 2 Everton 1
- Watford 0 Burnley 0
- Arsenal 2 Chelsea 0
- Huddersfield Town 0 Manchester City 3
- Fulham 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Next Premier League fixtures
Tuesday 29 January (7.45pm unless stated)
- Arsenal vs. Cardiff City
- Fulham vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- Huddersfield Town vs. Everton
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. West Ham United
- Manchester United vs. Burnley (8pm)
- Newcastle United vs. Manchester City (8pm, live on BT Sport 1)
Wednesday 30 January (7.45pm unless stated)
- AFC Bournemouth vs. Chelsea
- Southampton vs. Crystal Palace
- Liverpool vs. Leicester City (8pm, live on BT Sport 1)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Watford (8pm)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Thomas Tuchel to become next England football manager
Speed Read 'Divisive' German coach hopes to lead the men's team to victory
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published