Atletico Madrid line up Chelsea transfer 'alternative' as Tottenham 'keep an eye'

The new Premier League season is almost upon us, and both Chelsea and Tottenham begin their respective campaigns this weekend. Chelsea take on champions Manchester City on Sunday, while Spurs have an extra day’s wait, taking on Leicester City on Monday.

Both clubs have been busy in the summer window, and both have spent big in the last week or so, with Chelsea signing Pedro Neto and Tottenham snapping up Dominic Solanke. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding both clubs.

Lukaku latest

Chelsea are reportedly willing to reduce their asking price for Romelu Lukaku as they look to get the Belgian out of Stamford Bridge before the end of the month. The Blues are well aware that they must take a big loss on their £100million investment, and there has been talk that they will use the striker as part of a cash-plus-player deal for Napoli frontman Victor Osimhen.

Napoli look to be the most likely suitor of Lukaku, but a deal is not forthcoming and one is not likely to be struck until Osimhen leaves the Serie A club. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Chelsea are desperate to offload Lukaku and are even willing to slash their asking price to secure a deal

Atletico line up alternative

Atletico Madrid are said to have lined up an alternative deal for Conor Gallagher with talks rumbling on. Chelsea and Los Rojiblancos are still trying to hash out a deal, and Atletico are still said to be prioritising a deal for the England international as they bid to continue their summer spending fee.

But according to Mundo Deportivo, Diego Simeone now has an alternative in former Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat. The Moroccan star has been eyed by the La Liga club in the past, and they could circle back around if they cannot wrap up a deal for Gallagher.

Tottenham ‘keep an eye’

While we are on the subject of Gallagher, Tottenham are still said to be keeping an eye on the situation despite being well aware that Chelsea don’t want to sell the midfielder to a direct rival.

“I’m sure they will be keeping an eye on this situation, and that would be the second-worst case scenario for Chelsea,” Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth told GiveMeSport. “The way that they orchestrated this deal was that they offered him a two-year contract, which effectively is telling him that we want to sell you. And then, not only that, but they effectively chose the club that he was going to, which was Atletico Madrid – a club outside of the Premier League. They didn’t want him to go to a Premier League rival. Now that he is not going there, are Chelsea going to have to entertain potential deals from clubs in the Premier League?”