'Talks are ongoing' - Chelsea still hoping to offload forward before European transfer deadline

Chelsea are still said to be pushing to offload unwanted players ahead of transfer windows shutting around Europe. The vast majority of transfer windows have already slammed shut, including the UK and most of mainland Europe, while Saudi Arabia’s window closed earlier this week.

The two main windows that remain open are Türkiye and Greece, and there is no doubting that the former usually features more clubs who have big money to spend. We have already seen links between Fenerbahce and Chelsea man Ben Chilwell this week, and there could be many more deals involving Premier League clubs before the Turkish window shuts on September 13.

Though two days before that, the Greek window shuts, and Greek teams are also said to be eyeing potential Premier League deals. Another Chelsea player has popped up in those conversations with Enzo Maresca still reportedly pushing to trim his squad further with 31 first team players registered.

If Maresca can offload a two or three players before the windows shut, he should have a reasonably-sized squad when you consider 25 players are named in the Premier League squad, and some of the younger players won’t need to count towards that tally. Such a situation seemed impossible for Chelsea earlier this summer.

As mentioned, Chilwell could still depart, likely on loan, while there are also claims of interest in David Datro Fofana, who has only made three league appearances since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2023. He spent last season out on loan with Hertha Berlin and then Burnley, racking up 27 league appearances across those loan spells.

Fofana is still only 21 years of age, but he has been cast aside by Maresca, like many before him, and he will be well aware that he needs to move on to secure regular first team football this season. With few options still on the table due to the European window coming and going, there are now reports that Greek side AEK Athens could make a play.

The Daily Mail claim ‘talks are ongoing’ between the two clubs over a possible deal. Fofana is available for a loan or a permanent deal, according to the report, but it is not clear which type of deal is on the table with AEK Athens. The Greek deadline is on September 11.