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Chelsea are focusing on squad reinforcements this summer. Manager Thomas Tuchel wants to build a team that can contend for silverware next season.
Meanwhile, the Blues have agreed to sign one particular Manchester City forward for £45 million, according to journalist Bobby Vincent. Elsewhere, the London giants are ready to pay £60 million for a certain Juventus defender.
On that note, here's a look at the key Chelsea transfer stories as of July 3, 2022:
Chelsea agree £45 million fee to sign Raheem Sterling
Chelsea have agreed to pay Manchester City £45 million plus an additional £10 million in add-ons to sign Raheem Sterling, according to football.london journalist Bobby Vincent. The Blues were locked in negotiations with the Cityzens for a while and have now reached an agreement for the Englishman.
Sterling has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League over the last few seasons. The Englishman first caught the eye with Liverpool and has taken his game to a higher level since arriving at the Etihad in 2015. The 27-year-old has bagegd 131 goals and 95 assists from 339 appearances across competitions for City but has fallen out of favor under manager Pep Guardiola recently.
The Spanish manager doesn’t see Sterling as part of his plans for next season. The Blues have been on the Englishman’s chase all summer, with Tuchel eager to add more firepower to his attack. The German manager saw his frontline falter last season and is looking to make amends this summer.
Tuchel has been eager to rope in an upgrade on the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic and zeroed in on Sterling. The Englishman, who was eager to leave the Etihad in search of regular football, will have a chance to resurrect his career at Stamford Bridge.
Blues preparing £60 million offer for Matthijs de Ligt
Chelsea are preparing a £60.28 million + add-ons (€70 million) offer for Matthijs de Ligt, according to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla via The Hard Tackle. The Blues are in urgent need of defensive reinforcements this summer after losing two key defenders in Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. De Ligt has had a mixed time in Turin and has submitted a transfer request.
The London giants are now willing to offer a premium price for the Dutch defender, whose contract with the Bianconeri runs till 2024. They are hoping to prise him away at Stamford Bridge this summer. However, with the Serie A giants under no pressure to sell, they are likely to demand a hefty fee of around £86 million for his signature.
AC Milan confident of signing Hakim Ziyech
AC Milan remain confident of securing the services of Hakim Ziyech this summer, according to acclaimed transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The Morocco international has recently dropped down the pecking order under Tuchel at Chelsea. The 29-year-old registered eight goals and six assists from 44 games last season but doesn’t feature in Tuchel’s plans next season.
The Rossoneri are eager to lap him up ahead of the new season. Milan have had their eyes on Ziyech for a while and finally have the chance to get their man this summer. The Blues are already looking for his replacements in the market and are likely to allow him to leave for a suitable bid. The Moroccan has scored 14 goals and given 10 assists in 83 games for the Blues till date.
