Chelsea see offer 'rejected' for defender as rivals now 'frontrunners' for attacker deal

Chelsea continue to work on incomings as their players take some hard-earned time off ahead of their short pre-season. The Blues have already spent a significant chunk of cash this summer, although the sale of Noni Madueke has balanced things out a little.

Enzo Maresca is likely to be handed a number of new faces between now and the end of the summer, with positions still in need of strengthening. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Stamford Bridge.

Hato offer rejected

Ajax are said to have rejected Chelsea’s offer to sign Jorrel Hato, but a deal is still likely to be reached. According to ESPN, Ajax have turned down the Blues offer, but they have reportedly sent a counter offer worth a little more than the £34.9million previously reported.

Chelsea and Ajax are likely to come to an agreement given the small gap between the offer and the asking price. Ajax boss Johnny Heitinga has said: “He’s still an Ajax player. He doesn’t yet know if he’ll play in Sunday’s final. I can’t promise anything. We still have to train, and it’s still a few days. But he and [Kenneth] Taylor are still Ajax players at the moment.” Hato is said to have agreed personal terms with Chelsea.

Sterling latest

Fulham are now said to be pushing to sign Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling. Sterling is up for sale this summer, and he has been linked with a move to Türkiye and Italy in recent days.

According to TeamTalk, Fulham are now the frontrunners to pull off a deal, with a reported asking price of £20million mentioned. Chelsea are said to be prepared to take a big hit on their £45million investment. Sterling struggled during his loan deal with Arsenal last season and needs a fresh start away from Stamford Bridge, and with regular football.

Caicedo praise

Claude Makelele has been praising Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, who was one of the standout Blues players last season. He told the club website: “I think he has a lot of talent. Moi is humble, he plays with a smile and works hard for his team-mates. I did that when I was playing, enjoyed myself, and he has the passion and is a fighter. I think the passion and the fight is just as important as talent.

“I love him a lot, because when he started at Chelsea we talked together, and he was happy to come to Chelsea for his own story. He didn’t want to be compared to me, he wanted to do the ‘Caicedo role’. It’s very important because I was older and already playing at a high level with Real Madrid before I came to Chelsea, so now it is a little bit difficult for a young boy to try to be me straight away without that experience. Or to try to be what people think of as me.

“I prefer they do their own thing, write their own story, become their own “galactico”. So I am happy because that is what he is doing. To take my example and build on it in his own way is the best thing he can do.”

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