Chelsea set asking price for 'one of their best' players after £60m Champions League issue emerges
Chelsea are said to be demanding big money to sell one of their key players this summer.
It has been a busy and long weekend for Chelsea, who kicked it all off with a quarter-final win over Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup. The Blues can now look forward to semi-final with Fluminense on Tuesday night.
After their quarter-final win, Chelsea were hit by a huge fine from UEFA over financial breaches, and they now face an even bigger UEFA problem. According to The Times, Chelsea now need to raise more than £60million in player sales to be able to register their new signings for the Champions League due to UEFA’s financial fair play rules.
The Blues do have players they can sell, and it looks as though winger Noni Madueke has become the most likely to depart despite being a key player last season. Enzo Maresca has previously described Madueke as “one of” his “best players”. He said: "I consider Noni [Madueke] one of our best players to be honest. But because of that we want our best players to behave in the right way always. Not to switch off, not [to have] some days where they can drop. No."
But something seems to have changed. Asked after the Palmeiras game about Madueke, he responded: “Noni has been very important for us during this season. Today, again, he has been important. But my message to the players and to the club is that I want just players that are happy to be with us. The ones that are not happy, they are free to go. It's not for Noni, it's for all the players we have. But again, Noni has been very good during the season and very good tonight."
Arsenal are now being heavily linked with a move for Madueke as they look to add competition for Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka this summer. According to The Telegraph, the Gunners will have to pay £50million to land the England international this summer. Other reports have suggested that Madueke is very willing to make the move, with claims he has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal.
Chelsea would have to replace Madueke despite signing of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, but they will have to raise that all-important £60million before they can register those new arrivals. The Blues are also likely to sell a centre-back or two this summer while also buying one, and it looks as though they will try to offload Lesley Ugochukwu.
Gittens signs
Chelsea confirmed the signing of Bynoe-Gittens over the weekend, and it’s reported they paid Borussia Dortmund £55million to push through the deal. The 20-year-old told the club website: “It feels great. It’s a great feeling to join such a big club as Chelsea. I can’t wait to learn from everyone in the team and to push myself to the max here. It’s an amazing feeling.
The Blues had been in negotiations for the winger for weeks, but they have now got their man and they are likely to pursue a move for another winger should Madueke be sold.
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