Chelsea 'eye up' stunning four-player Bournemouth transfer raid amid Liverpool and Newcastle United 'interest'

Chelsea are reportedly planning a transfer raid of high-flying Bournemouth this month as they look to strengthen their squad for the second half of the season. The Blues currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, 10 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand on Enzo Maresca’s side.

Maresca is yet to make a move in the January transfer window, but that could soon change, as they are said to have lined up four Bournemouth players as transfer targets, including three defenders. According to the i, Chelsea are keen on signing centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi, left-back Milos Kerkez, and Dean Huijsen in defence. The report also suggests that they are keen on forward Antoine Semenyo.

The Blues had previously been linked with Zabarnyi, who has generated significant transfer interest over the past few months in the Premier League. He could help to fill the void left by the injured Wesley Fofana, who is due to be out until the end of the season. Milos Kerkez had previously been linked to London rivals Arsenal, however, the recent report doesn’t include the Gunners as an interested party in the left-back.

Chelsea will face competition from Liverpool to sign the Hungarian, the Liverpool Echo reports that his price has been driven up to the £40m mark, after an impressive first half of the season at Bournemouth. 19-year-old centre-back Dean Huijsen has broken out in Bournemouth’s side this season, making 14 Premier League appearances, and scoring twice. He could also help Chelsea provide cover for Fofana, and would be a high-potential signing for the future.

Chelsea keen on Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle target winger

Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has generated a significant amount of transfer interest this season. He is having his best year at the Vitality Stadium since joining in January 2023 from Bristol City.

Semeyo has scored five goals and contributed two assists in 19 Premier League games this season. Reports emerged in November suggesting that Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham were all tracking Semenyo over a possible January move.

Liverpool are also said to be interested in the Ghana international as a possible long-term replacement for Mo Salah, who is yet to sign a new contract at Anfield. The report suggests he could cost upwards of £50m this month.

Chelsea are now reportedly interested in Semenyo also, however, the wide position is less of a need compared to their defence, meaning the other three Bournemouth targets could become the priority for Maresca considering the significant interest in Semenyo.

How much could the Bournemouth quartet cost Chelsea?

If the Blues were to pursue all four players, it could prove to be a tough task considering that Bournemouth will likely be unprepared to offload the four, all in one go. With Semenyo commanding a £50m transfer fee, previous reports have also suggested that Zabarnyi will cost around the £50m mark too. Milos Kerkez is expected to cost around £40m, and Dean Huijsen to be around £15m, making a raid for all four names to cost a total of over £150m.

However, the Cherries are keen to sign players this month rather than offloading them after serious injuries to Evanilson and Enes Unal. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said: "A very difficult week for us. Starting from the personal side because from the footballing side, it is devastating but from the personal side, it is even worse. In Evanilson's case he finished the game and complained about another player stomping on him but we didn't think it was more than this. He developed a broken foot, surgery and a difficult situation. Then I will say Enes' one was worse because it was probably the moment he was waiting to have the chance to play more minutes and start more games. To have an ACL [anterior cruciate ligament injury] in the next training, and the process that comes with it that he already knows, is really sad for him."