Chelsea Set To Sign Antoine Grizmann And Axel Witsel But Mikel, Cuadrado & Salah To Leave
Chelsea are set to offload the trio of Mohamed Salah, Juan Cuadrado and John Obi Mikel this summer, with Antoine Griezmann and Axel Witsel targeted as their replacements.
Blues boss, Jose Mourinho has already seen, although against his wish, the departure of veteran goalie Petr Cech this summer. He however moved quickly to bring in Asmir Begovic as the 33-year old’s replacement.
Radamel Falcao has also come in on loan from Monaco in a summer transfer window which has not really been satisfying to some Chelsea fans.
The Blues other rivals have strengthened with arrivals of world-class stars for huge fee which they are sure of recouping from shirt sales among others. Chelsea, meanwhile, have been less inactive with only Falcao and Begovic being their major signings thus far, with the former not being the player he used to be anymore.
However, the Premier League champions look set to begin their summer revamp with the probable arrivals of Atletico Madrid’s winger Antoine Griezmann, Zenit’s Axel Witsel and Barcelona’s Pedro Rodriguez.
The likes of Juan Cuadrado and Mohamed Salah are also set to end their disastrous stint with the Blues, and Obi Mikel looks like he will be ending his 9-year stint with the club he joined in 2006.
Reports have confirmed Juventus as the most serious candidate to land 26-year old Juan Cuadrado who has failed to impress after joining the Blues in February. A fee of £24 million has also been quoted as what Chelsea have set aside as asking price for the Colombian winger.
Salah, 23, played and starred on loan at Fiorentina for the second part of last season. His decent performances have put Inter Milan on high alert with the Roberto Mancini’s team offering the winger £1.78 million a year to play for them.
Fiorentina also wanted Salah but he personally turned them down after the Viola had already paid the £700,000 stated in the contract with Chelsea, if they want the player to play for them on loan again.
As per London Evening Standard, the Premier League club have, however, decided to compensate the Florence club by repaying that sum and giving them another player on loan. Inter Milan is now the likely destination for Salah.
Obi Mikel is reportedly a target for Turkish club, Besiktas who also maintain an interest in Blues striker, Loic Remy. UAE club Al Ain have also been touted as the Nigerian’s next club.
Meanwhile, Chelsea owner has left for Russia in order to hold talks and finalise a deal to bring in Zenit midfielder, Axel Witsel, Goal understands. The Belgian player is also targeted by AC Milan, but the Blue will quickly move to seal the deal
Antoine Griezmann is alos aleading target for the club, with a sway deal involving Filipe Luis a possible feature in the transfer.