Chelsea transfer news: Zinedine Zidane, Mauro Icardi, Boubacar Kamara, Nicolo Barella

With speculation mounting that Maurizio Sarri could be gone before long, the Daily Star claims that the Chelsea boss has told his board “to back him in the transfer market this summer or sack him”.

That suggests Sarri believes he won’t lose the confidence of owner Roman Abramovich - despite rumours claiming the Blues are “eyeing” former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

But if Italian Sarri is given another season at the helm at Stamford Bridge who will he bring in to strengthen his desperately fragile squad?

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Caught on Kamara

TalkSPORT reports that Chelsea scouts were recently in France to cast an eye over the Marseille star labelled the “new Thiago Silva”.

The youngster in question is 19-year-old defender Boubacar Kamara, who talkSPORT says “has caught the eye with the Ligue 1 club this season”.

His mature performances for the Mediterranean outfit have impressed a host of top European clubs, and Arsenal are known to have made enquiries. But apparently Chelsea have taken it a step further by sending their spies to watch Kamara in action against Dijon last Friday night.

With Gary Cahill and David Luiz both out of contract at the end of the season, Chelsea are on the hunt for fresh blood and it’s claimed that Marseille will be willing to let him go for a suitably astronomical sum.

Battle for Barella

Arsenal are also ready to rival Chelsea for the signature of Cagliari sensation Nicolo Barella.

The 22-year-old midfielder is spoken of very highly in Serie A circles and Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb says that the two London clubs are both tailing the playmaker.

Chelsea were first alerted to Barella last month, and although they didn’t make a bid they are continuing to monitor him. But so now are Arsenal, and the Gunners have recently had their scouts run their rule over Barella as they prepare for life after Aaron Ramsey.

Icardi impasse

Finally, Football.London says that Mauro Icardi’s future at Inter Milan “remains a topic of much conversation in Italy”, with reports suggesting the Argentine striker could be tempted by a move to Stamford Bridge.

Talks with Inter over a new deal are going nowhere and Chelsea are said to be “one of the clubs chasing his signature”.

Inter boss Luciano Spalletti is becoming so concerned by the contract impasse that he recently made a public plea to his board.

Spalletti said: “The directors agreed to start talking about the contract, so now they need to go there and conclude it.”

This afternoon is was also reported that Inter had stripped Icardi of the captain’s armband.