Chelsea appear to have won the race for a 21-year-old French talent, Brighton’s World Cup hero is a man in significant demand and Manchester United have reportedly cast their eyes toward a new target after missing out on Cody Gakpo.
All of that and more in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
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CHELSEA WINS RACE FOR 21YO FRENCH PRODIGY
The January window is Graham Potter’s first as Chelsea boss and already it’s promising to be a crucial one.
After some strong results early into his tenure at Stamford Bridge, the optimism has given way to frustration as the gap between Chelsea and the Champions League spots widens.
The Blues were in the hunt for a left-sided centre back in the summer but failed to land a desired target.
However, it appears Chelsea have found a solution to their defensive woes as The Athletic reports AS Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile will join the club in January.
The 21-year-old will arrive in a deal reportedly worth up to $A58 million, with personal terms already agreed.
Badiashile, a left-footed centre back, is considered one of the best young players in his position across Europe and had been on Chelsea’s shortlist since the summer.
RED DEVILS EYE FRENCH TALENT TO REPLENISH FORWARD STOCKS
Manchester United remain in the market for attacking reinforcements after terminating Cristiano Ronaldo’s deal and watching Cody Gakpo slip through their fingers and move to Liverpool.
However, the Red Devils are now in the frame to snap up French star Marcus Thuram, per the Daily Mail.
Thuram, whose contract with Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach expires in the summer, is free to talk to clubs across the world ahead of a switch in the summer.
According to BILD, the Frenchman is only interested in moves to a big team, namely one of Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain or United.
However, the German club may be tempted to cash in on the 25-year-old talent now to save them losing him for free at the end of the season.
Although United could get him on a bargain deal should they swoop for him now, the Red Devils are reportedly set to operate only in the loan market in January.
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$173M CHELSEA FLOP PLEADS FOR SUMMER EXIT
If Chelsea wanted to keep Romelu Lukaku, they’re going to have to convince the star to stay as the Belgian striker made clear he wishes to “stay at Inter.”
Lukaku enjoyed a fruitful two-year spell with Inter from 2019 to 2021 where he scored 47 league goals in 72 appearances and helped his side finish top in Serie A in the 2020/21 season.
Chelsea, who had Lukaku on their books once before, opted to bring him back to Stamford Bridge in an eye-watering $173 million deal in the summer of 2021, but he struggled for form and fitness in his return season.
The 29-year-old returned to Inter on a season-long loan for the 2022/23 campaign and bagged a goal and an assist in his first two appearances, but has sat on the sidelines for the majority of the season with a hamstring injury.
However, Lukaku claims he is settled in Italy and hopes the club can thrash out a deal with Chelsea so he can remain with Inter for the long term.
“I spoke to Chelsea about my relationship with the coach and I decided to come back to Inter,” Lukaku told Sky Italy.
“I hope to stay at Inter, Inter for me is everything. But we need to find a way with Chelsea.
“I want to stay at Inter for a long time. Starting this year, my son is also playing for the Inter youth team and it will be great to continue here.
“We will talk to Chelsea at the end of the season to find a solution.”
SEAGULLS TO HOLD ON TO WORLD CUP BREAKOUT STAR?
Brighton are bracing for several of Europe’s best to make a move for breakout World Cup star Alexis Mac Allister, but the Premier League outfit remain quietly confident of retaining his services.
According to The Athletic, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are keen on snapping up the Argentinian midfielder, who is set to return to his club in the coming days.
Mac Allister recently inked a new deal to stay with Brighton until June 2025 with the club holding an additional one-year option, although there was no release clause inserted into the deal.
The 24-year-old won’t come cheap, with his new contract and World Cup performances serving to drive his value sky-high.
There’s also the added element of Brighton’s notoriously tough stance during negotiations, with former defender Marc Cucurella being sold for $106 million to Chelsea in the summer after just one Premier League season.
Although clubs may be turned off by the Seagulls’ asking price in January, they’ll almost certainly circle back in the summer to reassess.