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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Chelsea transfer news and rumours: Raphinha alternatives; Kante replacement; Koulibaly talks latest

Chelsea are looking to strengthen in several areas ahead of announcing their first transfer of the summer window.

With Raheem Sterling on the way, the Blues are looking to add even more depth to their attack with a move for Raphinha having stalled.

Serge Gnabry and Rafael Leao are the latest names being monitored by the club while Robert Lewandowski remains a distant link.

A replacement for N’Golo Kante is also being eyed, according to reports in Spain, in the form of Guido Rodriguez with Kalidou Koulibaly an option at the back amid Chelsea’s hunt for Matthijs de Ligt.

Here is your latest update of Chelsea news and rumours...

Serge Gnabry

Chelsea have sounded out both Bayern Munich's Gnabry as an alternative to Leeds forward Raphinha - who now looks set to join Barcelona, according to Standard Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella.

The German winger and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao are among a wide range of potential targets as Chelsea reassess their next move in attack after Raphinha rejected a £55million approach.

Both Gnabry, rated at £45m, and Leao, whose release clause is £127m, are in contract talks with their clubs and fears remain that their agents could be leveraging the Blues' desire to add a forward.

Guido Rodriguez

(Getty Images)

Chelsea could swoop for Real Betis midfielder Rodriguez if Arsenal make good on reports of their interest in N’Golo Kante.

Estadio Deportivo claim it was the Gunners originally interested in the Argentina international before moving onto Kante.

Therefore, the path is clear for Chelsea to negotiate a deal for Rodriguez with Betis described as open for business if a space in Thomas Tuchel’s midfield opens up.

Kalidou Koulibaly

Napoli are set to hold talks with Koulibaly over his future amid reports of Chelsea considering the defender as an alternative to Matthijs de Ligt.

Italian newspaper Il Mattino details Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis’ refusal to sell his star man to Juventus, having offered him a new £100,000-a-week contract ahead of his deal expiring next summer.

A transfer fee of £25m would reportedly be enough to persuade a sale and Gianluca Di Marzio adds that Chelsea have already started discussions with the player’s agent, Fali Ramadani.

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