Transfer Gossip: Chelsea activate pursuit of second target from same Prem club; Man Utd face Saudi competition for next signing

Chelsea are ready to step up their interest in Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, Man Utd’s path to signing Sofyan Amrabat now includes another obstacle, and Crystal Palace are set to wrap up a new arrival – all in Monday’s transfer gossip.

ROBERT SANCHEZ CHOSEN BY CHELSEA

Chelsea are paying close attention to the availability of Robert Sanchez as they aim to strengthen in goal, according to the Daily Mail.

Sanchez has a good reputation but has fallen down the pecking order at Brighton after the signing of Bart Verbruggen and Roberto De Zerbi’s decision to favour Jason Steele last season.

Chelsea, meanwhile, need new competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga after selling Edouard Mendy to Al Ahli and preparing to loan Gabriel Slonina to KAS Eupen.

Therefore, there have been several suggestions that they could raid Brighton for Sanchez. After all, their goalkeeping coach, Ben Roberts, used to work for Brighton.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are now looking into a swoop for Sanchez, despite struggling to do business with Brighton for midfield target Moises Caicedo.

The stalemate in those negotiations has not put Chelsea off moving for Sanchez, although they are yet to make an official offer.

It is unclear whether they view Sanchez as someone who can become their number one, or merely a deputy to Kepa instead.

Sanchez has two years remaining on his contract with Brighton, for whom he has made 90 appearances during his career. At the age of 25, he might be ready to make the next step of his career.

SAUDI SIDE WANT MAN UTD TARGET

Sofyan Amrabat has been named as the next target Man Utd will move for after Rasmus Hojlund, but there is now Saudi competition for the Morocco international.

According to L’Equipe, Al Ahli want to take Amrabat to the Saudi Professional League. His current club, Fiorentina, are said to be resigned to the fact they will lose the midfielder this summer.

Man Utd remain strong contenders to reunite him with his former Utrecht manager, Erik ten Hag. However, there could be some serious money on the table from Saudi Arabia.

Al Ahli have already signed players like Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin this summer. Now, they are hoping to tempt Amrabat to the Middle East.

There has been a growing sense of optimism that Man Utd can sign him, though. His future appears all to play for as the final month of the summer transfer window approaches.

Despite being a Morocco international, Amrabat was actually born in the Netherlands and has spent his entire club career to date playing in Europe.

His older brother, Nordin, has already played in Saudi Arabia himself, coincidentally. The more senior Amrabat represented Al Nassr between 2018 and 2021.

CRYSTAL PALACE AGREE FRANCA FEE

Matheus Franca is due to become a Crystal Palace player after they agreed some figures with his current employers at Flamengo.

Franca has been heavily linked with Palace recently and the Evening Standard has now revealed they have won the race to sign him.

They are due to pay Flamengo an initial fee of £17m before topping their investment up with up to £9m in add-ons.

Franca will subsequently arrive in London this week in order to complete his medical and sign his contract.

Billed as a replacement for Wilfried Zaha, Franca can operate in various attacking roles. Chelsea and Newcastle were also keen on him, but Palace are about to cross the finishing line in the race to sign the 19-year-old.