One Chelsea star is trying to leave Stamford Bridge permanently this winter, and could cut short his stay at the club before the end of the month with a move now expected in a move that could force the Blues into the transfer market.
Maresca downplays transfer plans
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca downplayed his side’s need to enter the transfer market this term following their 5-0 win over Morecambe in the FA Cup third round, despite shaky form in Premier League.
Two points from a possible 12 saw any slim hope of a Premier League title challenge disappear and the Blues are now in the race to secure a top-four finish, as expected heading into the campaign.
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Chelsea’s next five games in the Premier League |
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Bournemouth (host) |
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Wolves (house) |
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Manchester City (away) |
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West Ham (host) |
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Brighton (away) |
Wesley Fofana’s long-term injury has prompted suggestions they could be looking for another centre-back this January amid links to Crystal Palace centre-back Marco Guehi, but Maresca knocked them down.
“At this point I think we’re OK. Timing [for Fofana] is between 12 and 16 weeks which is three months and the season could be over. If he can come back early, we’ll all be happy. [But] we have Benoit who is close to returning, we have Josh who is doing well, Axel and Levi [Colwill] who can do well in the position,” he told the media.
Much of the transfer activity in west London this month will be departures, with the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Ben Chilwell all thought to be free to leave this winter, the latter being made publicly available by Maresca. Now another department has joined them.
Chelsea’s summer signing pushing to leave
According to reliable Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea’s summer signing Renato Veiga is now “pushing” to leave Stamford Bridge just a few months after his arrival, with the Portuguese defender keen to play regularly at centre-back.
Signed from FC Basel for £12m in the summer, Veiga has had limited opportunities under Maresco so far, with the 21-year-old starting just one Premier League game, although he has been a constant presence in the Conference League and played 90 minutes in their recent win the FA Cup.
However, Romano reports that Veiga wants to play in central defence, something he has yet to do for the Blues, and as a result he is pushing for a move away from west London this winter.
It is added that Veiga is now “expected” to leaveand Borussia Dortmund is among the parties most interested in signing the young talent. Indeed, they have gone so far as to reach a “full agreement” with the player on a Bundesliga contract, but have yet to make an offer to Chelsea.
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For their part, the Blues are reluctant to loan Veiga, who still has six and a half years to work on his £25,000 a week deal at Stamford Bridge. Instead, they are waiting for a permanent deal and are demanding €30m (£25m) to let him leave, which would represent a huge return on their initial outlay. With the defender clearly keen to leave, a deal seems highly likely in the coming weeks.
