Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Niklas Sule and Milan Badelj

Manchester United scouts have reportedly told Jose Mourinho to try to beat Chelsea in the race to sign Hoffenheim star Niklas Sule. Meanwhile, AS Roma are said to be planning a bid for Fiorentina's Milan Badelj as soon as the January transfer window opens.

As reported by ESPN FC and German daily Bild (h/t Daily Express' James Cambridge), Chelsea are said to be leading the chase to land Sule, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur also extensively scouting the 21-year-old.

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Duncan Castles of the Daily Record reported United scouts have now recommended their manager to make a move as well, although Benfica's Victor Lindelof remains the Red Devils' primary defensive target for the January window.

Sule has been a regular starter for Hoffenheim since 2013 and has steadily continued his development since standing out as a teenager. He made his full international debut earlier this year with the 2014 FIFA World Cup winners and is expected to become a regular for Germany in the near future.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Sule is a bit of a throwback defender, standing out for his raw power, impressive aerial ability and his ability to close down attackers. His passing isn't on the level of Bayern Munich's Mats Hummels or Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci, but he's still impressive in the buildup game and has a surprising burst of speed when moving forward.

FourFourTwo's Michael Yokhin is a fan:

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Sule's as close to the perfect centre-back as you can imagine. Physically strong – he's well-built and stands at 6ft 5in – the 21-year-old's extremely good in the air, but also possesses outstanding technical skills on the ground. His passing range is excellent, and he can regularly be found starting off Hoffenheim's attacks.

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But according to Yokhin, several top Premier League clubs tried to sign the youngster during the summer, and Sule turned down every single move for an extended stay with Hoffenheim. The club is battling for a European spot in the Bundesliga―he has no reason to leave just months after committing.

Sule finds himself in the perfect environment to continue his development in Hoffenheim, and a January transfer seems next to impossible. The Red Devils and other Premier League clubs may be looking to add to their defence in midseason, but they better look elsewhere.

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Meanwhile, TalkSport reported Roma are preparing to strike first in the race to land Badelj, with Chelsea, AC Milan and Schalke all keeping an eye on the situation.

Badelj has been linked with a move away from Fiorentina for some time, and his agent, Dejan Joksimovic, told Pagineromaniste.com (h/t TalkSport) it's unclear whether La Viola will move the player on in January.

He said: "Roma? Many teams are said to be interested in him, but I promised Milan that we wouldn't talk with any clubs on January 1. We don't know if Fiorentina will sell him in January or not."

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The Croatia international has been a standout for Fiorentina since 2014, running the show in midfield from a deep position. He's one of the best distributors in Serie A, often launching La Viola's attacks with long balls or clever openings toward the wing.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Badelj's experience in the 3-4-3 and 3-4-2-1 formations makes him an attractive January target for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who won't have to teach the 27-year-old how to play in his system.

His price tag should also be reasonable, so if Fiorentina do decide to cash in, the Blues shouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.