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Football London
Football London
Sport
David Byrom

Latest Chelsea transfer rumours: Sancho alternative found, Lampard plots big summer signing

Hopes are still high that we see Chelsea back in action next month with a planned return for the Premier League.

Yet plans to resume this season has not stopped the Blues from looking to next season.

There are plenty of reports that the Blues are in the midst of plotting their summer transfer business in what could be a big transfer window for the club.

Chelsea Q&A with Oliver Harbord

With that in mind, here are the latest rumours from Stamford Bridge

Keeping tabs on Corona

The Blues are said to be keeping tabs on Porto star Jesus Corona should Jadon Sancho go elsewhere.

According to the Daily Star, Frank Lampard is very keen on Sancho but, with Manchester United favourites for the £100m-rated Borussia Dortmund star, other options have to be lined up.

That includes Mexico winger Corona, who has two goals and 17 assists in 41 games for Porto this season.

Rated at £26m, the 27-year-old is a lot cheaper than Sancho, and also has the versatility to operate at wing-back.

Inter Milan and Sevilla have also enquired about Corona, who once turned down a move to Barcelona.

With Willian and Pedro both expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Chelsea are set to be in the market for wingers.

Boga return ruled out

Jeremie Boga will not be returning to Stamford Bridge.

The former Blues winger is currently at Sassuolo and has emerged as one of the best young wingers in Serie A.

Yet the Guardian report that the 23-year-old, who came through the youth system at Stamford Bridge but played just 18 minutes of competitive football for the first team, will not be coming back to the Blues.

(Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Chelsea do have a buyback clause for the Ivory Coast international but are understood to be negotiating over a sell-on clause instead.

Boga has transitioned into a consistent attacking midfielder in Italy, with 11 Serie A goals in 52 appearances.

The Blues' buyback clause was around £13m but, with the likes of Napoli interested in him this summer, they have decided to try and take a share of the spoils for the player.

One big signing to come

Frank Lampard has set his sights on bringing in one big signing this summer.

Lampard has had to make do with what he has got during his time in charge at Chelsea due to last summer's transfer ban and a lack of activity in January.

Yet with just three strikers in his squad, Lampard has enough in his budget to bring in a big-name player, according to the Athletic.

Speaking on Straight Outta Cobham, reporter Simon Johnson said: "I think the plan before the lockdown was for Giroud to sign a deal for two reasons - partly as a protection assurance from Chelsea's point of view just in case things didn't work out but primarily the plan was that of the two strikers to be moved on it was Batshuayi because he was going to carry the bigger transfer value.

"Of course, things have changed since then but I still think that of the two strikers if they can move on it will be Batshuayi.

"Yes, they’re on the hunt for another forward but it’s a lot more difficult for the many complications this has brought. I think Chelsea have enough in their budget.

"I was talking to someone the other day, they were suggesting that in all likelihood there’ll be one big signing, and then whatever else comes up, swap deals etc, etc.

"The striker which Frank wants is someone who can hold up the ball and play around him. Which is very much a Giroud-type striker and that certainly rules out Batshuayi, who increasingly became a peripheral figure.

"He certainly lost his place on the bench by the latter part when the season was taking place."

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