Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Euro Paper Talk: Potter conjures up Chelsea signing of star who held Man Utd talks as part of double raid; Leeds line up two striker signings

Adrien Rabiot, Neta Lavi, Maccabi Haifa v Juventus in Champions League clash at Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel

Chelsea are closing on two January signings with a busy month to also see two stars depart, Leeds United are eyeing deals for two new strikers, while Wednesday’s Euro Paper Talk claims Julen Lopetegui wants a Real Madrid striker as his first signing at Wolves.

POTTER KEEN TO BRING IN ADRIEN RABIOT

Chelsea boss Graham Potter is reportedly closing in on the signing of Adrien Rabiot as part of a transfer double at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues boss is making plans ahead of the January window and is prioritising midfield additions.

Indeed, with the Blues potentially losing both N’Golo Kante and Jorginho next summer, it is an area Potter knows needs attention.

As such, reports in Spain claim Rabiot is now emerging as a top target.

The French midfielder came desperately close to signing for Manchester United over the summer after a series of talks.

That move ultimately broke down with his mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, making too bigger demands for her son.

But United’s loss is set to be Chelsea’s gain with Potter seemingly convincing the star to sign.

His deal at Juventus expires next summer and Juve are willing to listen to offers for him in January. To that end, the Blues reportedly believe they can secure his signature for a bargain fee of around £12m.

He will reportedly pen a three-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge, keeping him at the club until summer 2026.

Ironically, Kante and Jorginho are both on Juventus’ radar. Indeed, a report on Tuesday suggests a deal was a strong option for World Cup winner Kante.

Rabiot deal to be followed up by Leandro Trossard signing

The Blues will not rest on their laurels either with a second deal, this time for Leandro Trossard, also in the works.

The winger is well known to Potter, having worked with him during their time at Brighton.

The Belgian’s game has taken itself to another level this season, though. Indeed, the 27-year-old has seven goals and one assist from 12 appearances so far in 2022/23.

Now, according to FourFourTwo, Chelsea are already in talks over a £30m deal to bring him to south-west London.

That offer will reportedly be enough to convince Brighton to cash in with his deal due to expire in summer 2023. The Seagulls do, however, have a one-year-option on his contract.

The signings of both players will see two players depart Stamford Bridge.

Per reports, both Denis Zakaria – signed over the summer on loan from Juventus – and Hakim Ziyech will both be allowed to depart.

Chelsea also reportedly have a deal in place to sign Christopher Nkunku next summer.

LEEDS UNITED LOOKING AT FRESH MOVE TO SIGN MARTIN TERRIER

Leeds United are moving into pole position to sign Martin Terrier, the man Liverpool looked at as a replacement for Sadio Mane. (90min)

The Whites are also ready to muscle in and beat Nottingham Forest and West Ham to the signing of Villarreal striker Boulaye Dia. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz will become Julen Lopetegui’s first signing as Wolves manager in January. (Fijachés)

Liverpool have decided to go all out and will go as high as £130m to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund next summer. (SportBILD)

Manchester City are plotting a move for RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo, with his deal due to expire in summer 2024. (various)

Manchester City are planning to have Palmeiras’ Endrick watched against Fortaleza at Allianz Parque on Wednesday as they weigh up a £50m move for the teenager. (ESPN Brasil)

Manchester United are accelerating plans to sign Cody Gakpo amid claims Barcelona are planning a cheeky player-plus-cash offer. (various)

EVERTON PLOT AMBITIOUS MOVE FOR JAPAN STAR KAMADA

Everton are ready to make a firm approach to try lure Eintracht Frankfurt playmaker Daichi Kamada to Goodison in 2023. (Forbes)

Facundo Pellistri’s agent claims the Uruguayan winger has no future at Man Utd and will leave Old Trafford ‘imminently’. (ESPN)

Dennis Praet ‘long to leave Leicester’ after becoming frustrated with life under Brendan Rodgers. (Torino Granata)

Armando Broja insists he is happy to stay at Chelsea, despite rumours linking him with a move to Atletico Madrid. (Fijachés)

Brighton are reportedly ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal in the race to sign Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko. (The Athletic)

Mykhaylo Mudryk’s teammates are already teasing the player that he is destined to sign for Arsenal amid ongoing links for the Shakhtar winger. (Football24)

BARCELONA LEAD MAN UTD, CHELSEA FOR BENJAMIN PAVARD

Barcelona are moving ahead of Man Utd and Chelsea in the race to sign unhappy Bayern Munich full-back Benjamin Pavard. (Sport)

Chelsea failed in a bid to hijack Paris Saint-Germain’s move to sign Nordi Mukiele from RB Leipzig during the summer. (Fabrizio Romano)

Arsenal spurned the chance to sign Benfica left-back Alejandro Grimaldo over the summer, after moving for Oleksandr Zinchenko instead. (Fabrizio Romano)

Emiliano Martinez’s former mentor Miguel Angel Santoro now believes the Aston Villa keeper is one of the best in the world. (Continental)

Liverpool target Konrad Laimer is ready to talk to Premier League clubs over a potential move with his RB Leipzig deal nearing an end. (90min)

Mohamed Salah insists Liverpool should feel proud to beat Napoli after labelling the Serie A leaders ‘one of the best sides in the world’. (BT Sport)

UNAI EMERY WANTS TO BRING IN EDEN HAZARD TO ASTON VILLA

Inter Miami are reportedly planning to sign Wolves forward Leonardo Campana on a permanent deal. (Tom Bogert)

Unai Emery is looking to kick off his Aston Villa reign with the signing of Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard. (Sport)

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard

Lionel Messi may yet opt to stay at PSG for another season if the club fails to win the Champions League this season. (L’Equipe)

Torino’s Dutch defender Perr Schuurs, 22, is on Liverpool’s list of targets to one day replace Virgil van Dijk. (Tuttomercatoweb)

Toni Kroos remains undecided whether to sign a new deal at Real Madrid or take the option to retire. (ESPN)

Erik ten Hag is holding talks over a potential Man Utd deal to sign Spanish player and former Man City man Brahim Diaz. (various)