Chelsea get 'free run' at transfer target as Real Madrid 'determined' to sign midfielder

Chelsea will now be nearing the final stages of their preparations for this weekend’s tough-looking clash with Manchester City. The Blues are back in the top four, but they will need to hold of teams like City if they want to remain there.

In the meantime, the transfer window continues to unfold, and we are still likely to see exits and - perhaps - an incoming at Stamford Bridge. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Stamford Bridge.

Garnacho boost

Chelsea have received a potential boost in their bid to land Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho. The Blues have been interested in Garnacho this month, and they were said to be considering whether to make a bid this week.

Napoli had made a £50million plus add-ons bid, possessing an advantage due to the fact they are not a Premier League club, but that bid was rejected. Reports now suggest Napoli will instead look to sign Karim Adeyemi on loan from Manchester City, offering a Chelsea a clearer path to Garnacho if they do want to pursue a deal.

Real Madrid eye Enzo

Real Madrid are said to be interested in a shock move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. D Sports, via SportWitness, report that Los Blancos are determined to land the Argentine as they look to bolster their midfield.

Though, Fernandez joined Chelsea for a fee of £106.8million, and Chelsea are not going to sell him for any less than that. That surely makes a deal unlikely, even beyond the fact the Blues will not want to lose Fernandez at this stage.

Garnacho told to go

Rio Ferdinand believes Chelsea target Garnacho should leave United for his own good this month. "Sancho looks a different person, not even a player, a different person at Chelsea," Ferdinand said on talkSPORT. "And Garnacho, I think some of the players, that's why I think with Rashford, I think if I'm sitting there and I'm advising now, just go.

"Because you need to actually go and look at, McTominay should be your person, you go, that is what I want to follow. He looks like he's enjoying his life, he's enjoying football again. Marcus Rashford's face doesn't, forget everything else, his face on a football pitch hasn't enjoyed football for probably three years. It looks like. So I want to see these kids smiling. I love the young kids coming through and playing well. Garnacho’s probably sitting there thinking, this is Man United, I don't want to leave it, it's hard to leave that badge. But I might start enjoying myself a bit more."