Chelsea Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of April 21
It's getting stuffy in here, isn't it?
Don't worry, there are only three more weeks until the transfer window opens to let in the breeze of confirmed deals. You'll have to put up with the floral air freshener of rumours and hypotheticals until then, though.
Sorry about that.
Click through for the latest rumoured goings on in the Chelsea boardroom.
---UPDATED SUNDAY 27 APRIL---
Chelsea Target £20 Million Arturo Vidal
1 of 8
Sunday
Dave Kidd at The Mirror has reported that Chelsea have been scouting 26-year-old Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal as a long-term replacement for Frank Lampard.
Roman Abramovich Wants Edinson Cavani over Diego Costa
2 of 8
Thursday
"Roman knows best" has been the mantra at Stamford Bridge for the past decade. Whether he actually does know best is a topic for another time, but money talks and the Russian holds the chequebook. Having had such success with his personally preferred purchases in the past, Mr Abramovich has decided that he wants Edinson Cavani, according to Ben Jefferson at The Express.
Never mind that Diego Costa has a release clause that can be triggered for considerably less than Cavani would cost. Forget the fact that PSG are unlikely to let Cavani leave after only a year, however unhappy he may be at playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Roman knows best.
Barcelona Ban Suspension Allows Them to Bid for David Luiz
3 of 8
Thursday
In a move that surprised nobody, FIFA have suspended Barcelona's one-year transfer ban pending an appeal. That leaves the Catalan club free to continue their pursuit of David Luiz, whom Chelsea are believed to value at around £25 million, per The Metro's Jamie Sanderson.
Chelsea Set to Lose out on Luke Shaw
4 of 8
Thursday
Chelsea supporter and transfer target Luke Shaw looks set to move to Manchester United in the summer for a fee of £30 million, writes Jamie Jackson at The Guardian. While the Blues are trying to cut their wage bill to comply with Financial Fair Play, the prospect of missing out on any form of European football next season has not deterred United from offering the teenager a contract worth £100,000 per week.
Adrien Rabiot in from PSG
5 of 8
Wednesday
Today's Rumour Mill in The Guardian is reporting that Chelsea are preparing to sign 18-year old Adrien Rabiot from PSG. The midfielder currently earns £5000 a week in Paris but wants to increase that to £60,000 if he is to sign a new deal. His current contract expires in 2015, opening the door for bids from around Europe.
Ashley Cole to Real Madrid
6 of 8
Wednesday
Despite returning to the side for the Champions League semi-final last night, it looks like Ashley Cole's time at Chelsea is drawing to a close. John Cross at The Mirror has reported that Real Madrid are set to offer the veteran left-back a one-year contract worth £3.5 million when his current deal at Stamford Bridge expires in the summer.
David Luiz to Barcelona Despite Catalan Club's Transfer Ban
7 of 8
Monday
Ed Malyon of Mirror Football has reported that Barcelona reckon they will be able to get their transfer ban lifted for long enough to sign David Luiz, thus completely undermining the whole point of a transfer ban.
Thomas Vermaelen in from Arsenal
8 of 8
Monday
According to Barry Glendenning of The Guardian's Rumour Mill, Thomas Vermaelen could be moving across London to Stamford Bridge this summer as a replacement for Luiz.
The Belgian would be joining several of his national teammates, but his song won't be anywhere near as good as Luiz's.
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