In the past week or so it finally became an exciting summer transfer window at Chelsea. Who will be the next to join manager Maurizio Sarri and midfielder Jorginho as new arrivals this summer?
Who will be heading out the Stamford Bridge exit door? Let’s take a spin through the latest transfer rumors and gossip making the rounds on the internet today. As always, until it’s actually an officially done deal, take the rumors with a grain of salt.
We still don’t have clarity on the future of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but Sarri says he’s confident his #1 will stay put (as will Eden Hazard and Willian, the Italian believes).
Real Madrid have been pursuing Courtois, but as the prospects of the European champions acquiring him diminish, we’re now seeing claims that Madrid are keen on pursuing Tottenham Hotspur #1 Hugo Lloris.
Nevertheless, Chelsea are apparently targeting another goalkeeper, perhaps only for cover though.
Manchester City man Joe Hart has certainly seen his name added into the mix, and the 31-year-old has spoken candidly about his future.
“I need to go somewhere permanent, I think that’s obvious,” Hart said while on exhibition tour with City in the United States.
“I did what I did in the previous two seasons because I needed to play to be involved in the World Cup. And look where that got me.”
“I’m experienced, I’ve played at the highest level for a long time and done a lot of things in the game. I need to be an important player at that club and I think that can only happen with a permanent move.”
Hart on how he’s been handling his uncertain future:
“I’ve been dealing with it the same way I deal with everything. I’m professional and I get on with things. My job is to play football. I’ve got other people trying to sort other things out for me in terms of a direction.”
“I’m supposed to be here so this is where I put all my energy and time.”
And now 38-year-old Ben Green has emerged as a potential target too. According to ESPN FC, the Blues would potentially be offering the former Huddersfield Town shot-stopper a one year deal.
Green, who is now able to move on a free transfer and in the twilight of his career, should take any gig he can get at this point given how he failed to feature for the Terriers in league play last season.
-Elsewhere, the Chelsea midfield overhaul, according to some claims, could potentially continue with the addition of Bayern Munich man Thiago Alcantara.
Or so it would seem, as the Bavarian giants actually have no interest in selling the Spaniard, who has also been linked to Manchester United and Barcelona this summer.
That’s according to Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“Thiago is an important player for us and we have never once articulated the thought that he should leave the club,” he told Abendzeitung. (h/t Manchester Evening News)
“There has never been anything to the story whatsoever.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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