Chelsea Transfer News Roundup: Blues eyeing Manchester City ace; Conor Gallagher wants to stay, and more - June 12, 2024
Chelsea are working to improve their squad after finishing sixth in the Premier League. Enzo Maresca has been brought in to help the club regain their glory days.
Meanwhile, the Blues are interested in Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez. Elsewhere, midifelder Conor Gallagher has no desire to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
On that note, here's a look at the key Chelsea transfer stories as on June 12, 2024:
Chelsea eyeing Julian Alvarez
Chelsea could be the dark horses in the race to sign Julian Alvarez this summer, according to transfer insider Ben Jacobs. The Argentinean striker is no longer willing to play second-fiddle to Erling Haaland at Manchester City and apparently wants to leave this year.
Alvarez registered 19 goals and 13 assists in 54 games in the 2023-24 campaign. His efforts have reportedly turned heads at Stamford Bridge, where a new No. 9 is the need of the hour.
However, in his column for Caught Offside, Jacobs said that City boss Pep Guardiola won't be too keen to let the 24-year-old leave.
“Julian Alvarez is not a player Manchester City want to lose, but it’s clear he wants some guarantees over playing time. That makes the situation open,” wrote Jacobs.
He continued:
“When players like Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer went to Pep Guardiola and explained they wanted a new challenge, the Manchester City boss was very understanding. He might not be as accommodating with Alvarez given his importance to the team."
Jacobs acknowledged the Blues' interest in Alvarez but added that Aston Villa's Jhon Duran might be ahead of the Argentinian on the wishlist.
“Chelsea could be one to watch, but they haven’t yet made any kind of meaningful approach. I still sense Jhon Duran might be ahead of Alvarez given he’s cheaper and only 20," wrote Jacobs.
He added:
"Chelsea have faith in Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku can be used as a false nine, so Chelsea’s recruitment team aren’t as worried as they perhaps were earlier in the year about adding someone already proven or Premier League-seasoned.”
Duran registered eight goals from 37 games for the Villans in the 2023-24 campaign.
Conor Gallagher wants to stay
Conor Gallagher wants to stay at Stamford Bridge, according to GIVEMESPORT. The English midfielder will enter the final year of his contract this summer, but his future remains undecided.
Gallagher enjoyed an outstanding 2023-24 season for Chelsea, registering seven goals and nine assists in 50 games across competitions. He wore the armband for much of the campaign, with skipper Reece James missing games due to injury.
However, his efforts haven't been enough to earn him a new contract yet. The London giants are looking to offload players to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
Recent reports have suggested that they are willing to cash in on Gallagher, who would represent pure profit on their books. There's interest in his services from Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
However, the Englishman wants to stay and continue his 16-year association with the Blues. He's unable to understand why the club wants him to go and is waiting for a renewal offer, but Chelsea are yet to offer him a new deal.
Blues willing to offload Trevoh Chalobah
Chelsea are ready to cash in on Trevoh Chalobah this summer, according to The Athletic. The Englishman was wanted at Bayern Munich last summer but ended up staying at Stamford Bridge.
He missed the first half of the campaign with injury but fought his way back into the team as the season progressed. Chalobah finished with 17 appearances across competitions, but his future remains unclear.
The 24-year-old is under contract with the Blues till 2028 but apparently doesn't fit into Enzo Maresca's plans. The Italian manager prefers to play out from the back, and the club believes the Englishman is unsuited for the job.
The reports adds that the London giants are ready to let him go for the right price this summer. It's unclear if the Bavarians would return for the 24-year-old, but he's wanted by Fulham this year.