Chelsea continue to be linked with superstars from across Europe and the rest of the world, with more free-spending under Todd Boehly billed. The Blues are European champions following their UEFA Conference League triumph, and preparations for the Champions League are already underway following their top-five finish last term.
Enzo Maresca faced criticism throughout the season after enduring a mid-season slump following a good start to the campaign, which saw them compete at the summit with Liverpool. However, by the beginning of May they soon found themselves in the thick of a battle to qualify for the elite European competition.
The forthcoming Premier League poses a significant challenge for the Blues, who must establish themselves back among the top-flight elite and consider themselves title challengers again.
football.london has now examined the deals that Chelsea could complete before the end of the transfer window as it reopens today, looking at the latest transfer odds from bet365.
Joao Pedro
The Brazilian striker is facing intense scrutiny over his future at Brighton & Hove Albion. He netted ten goals in the Premier League last term, averaging a goal every 195 minutes and added six assists.
Reports suggest that the 23-year-old is facing a Seagulls exit following a high-profile fallout towards the end of the season that saw him left out of the squad. Bet365 odds have marked Newcastle as the frontrunners at 2/5 while Chelsea are 7/1 to sign the attacker in the summer transfer window.
football.london writer Bobby Vincent says: Pedro, though, is one of those players where we still do not know his main position. Chelsea have had similar with the likes of Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku in recent times and at the reported price of £60m, it seems like a bit of an unnecessary signing from the Blues’ point of view.
Hugo Ekitike
In the German media, Chelsea have long been viewed as leading contenders to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike. It appeared that a move could be on the cards but the Blues failed to land his services before their Club World Cup campaign gets underway in the United States.
The Bundesliga club is demanding a hefty €100m (£85m) for the France under-21 international, and bet365 considers Man United favourites for his signature at 5/4, with Liverpool at 7/2. Chelsea are now priced at 5/1, with interest seemingly fading.
football.london writer Bobby Vincent says: Chelsea hold a concrete interest in Ekitike but will not pay the £85m being quoted for his signature. If Frankfurt refuse to budge on their asking price, the Blues will most likely walk away from negotiations, football.london understands.
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho’s future appears to lie away from Old Trafford after falling out of favour with Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim. Chelsea registered an interest in the 20-year-old last summer but a move failed to materialise.
This summer could well be the Argentine’s last in the North West and Chelsea lead the way in bet365’s odds at 13/8 ahead of Atletico Madrid at 3/1 and Napoli at 7/2..
football.london writer Bobby Vincent says: Chelsea’s interest in Garnacho has not gone away with the United winger still on the radar at Stamford Bridge, football.london understands. However, the Blues have identified Jamie Gittens as their No.1 target on the left wing, with the club hopeful they can agree a deal with Borussia Dortmund for the 20-year-old wide man.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen is another who was previously on Chelsea’s radar as they pushed to sign him last summer. However, they couldn’t meet Napoli’s demands, and eventually, the Nigerian made the temporary move to Galatasaray.
This time around, he has been the topic of interest from the Saudi Pro League amid interest from Al-Hilal but according to bet365, a return to Istanbul looks the most likely outcome at 7/4. Any Saudi Pro League side is now 5/2 while Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Man United (8/1) sit ahead of them in the running (16/1).
football.london writer Bobby Vincent says: Chelsea’s interest in Osimhen has never gone away, however there have always been reservations to do with the Nigerian’s extortionate wage demands. The Blues could not agree a deal with the striker last summer because of the salary he was asking for, and there is no indication he will lower his price this time around.
Xavi Simons
The Holland international looks like one of the hottest prospects on the market; however, Xavi Simons isn’t attracting the sort of attention that his RB Leipzig teammate Benjamin Sesko is getting. The Bundesliga side only made his move to Germany permanent in January, following a loan spell from Paris Saint-Germain, and there were intense rumours over his future.
However, if the odds from bet365 are to be believed, he is due to remain in Leipzig for at least another six months as they rate his chances of remaining at the club at 2/1. Bayern Munich (4/1), Manchester City (6/1), Tottenham Hotspur (7/1) and Man United (7/1) all sit in front of Chelsea (8/1) in the queue.
football.london writer Bobby Vincent says: Simons is someone Chelsea have been aware of for a while. Sources have told Football. London that the RB Leipzig attacker is someone on the club’s radar, but there is nothing advanced at this point in time.
Find all the latest Chelsea transfer odds with bet365 here.
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