Chelsea Transfer News: Kenedy Approach Revealed, Douglas Costa Fuels Rumours

With a host of European juggernauts reportedly in the race to land Brazilian sensation Kenedy, it appears Chelsea are going the extra mile in order to sign this prodigious talent.

According to Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star, the Blues are using former midfielder Deco as an intermediary between themselves and the player’s current club Fluminense in an attempt to expedite any potential deal.

In the piece, Brazilian scout Eduardo Alves is quoted telling GianlucaDiMarzio.com there are a lot of interested clubs:

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As of today I can say Juve is interested but Fluminense asked for a lot: 12/13 million.

There was a contact with Chelsea, through Deco, now his agent, it was a timid approach, not a formal offer.

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The 20-year-old has burst onto the scene in the Brazilian top flight this season, dazzling defences with his blistering dribbling ability and searing pace. Naturally, his stylistic make-up has drawn comparisons with Barcelona man Neymar and as noted by Turrell’s piece, it’s little surprise that the Blues, the Blaugrana and Manchester United are all apparently interested.

Bleacher Report’s Spanish football expert Guillem Balague recently took a look at where this exciting young talent is likely to end up:

Moving to Europe represents a major step-up for young South American players and it’s a decision which Kenedy must take a lot of time to ponder. Chelsea may be a tantalising prospect for this rising star, but it’s imperative he gets regular game time to continue flourishing; given the Blues’ array of attacking quality, that’s no guarantee at Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, it’s going to take a very special player to break into this Blues team, but Juventus’ Paul Pogba is definitely one who has what it takes. According to the Bianconeri’s sporting director Giuseppe Marotta, there are a host of clubs willing to pay a whopping £55 million in order to land the French star as well, per David Wright of the Express:

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There are many suitors of Pogba.

But we do not want to open negotiations and we want him to stay with us. There are clubs prepared to pay between €70m and €80m to sign him.

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According to Wright, two of those teams are Chelsea and United. In truth, it’s a figure that would probably represent value for money when it comes to this enthralling midfield maestro, for despite his tender years, Pogba is already cementing his status as one of the finest footballers on the planet.

As noted by Squawka Football, he’s developed a patent for the spectacular this season as well:

Pogba could potentially form an impenetrable midfield partnership with the rumbustious Nemanja Matic at the heart of this team should he join the Blues, but for the time being Juventus are seemingly intent on keeping hold of their prized asset.

While he may be tempted by a move away from Juve, remaining in Turin for another season remains the best course of action for this young player’s development. That way Pogba can continue to mature without the spotlight of a big-money move relentlessly trained upon him.

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One player who is ready for a transfer is Shakhtar Donetsk’s Douglas Costa, and he’s openly admitted that he wants to play under Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, per Darren Lewis of the Mirror:

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I’m tired of playing in the same league. It’s time to change something. I want to try myself in a strong team that plays in a strong championship.

I want to play for Chelsea not just because my friend Willian plays there, but also because it’s the team coached by a great coach like Mourinho.

With them I can achieve maximum height. I am now 24, and it is a mistake to try to persuade me to stay.

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Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

As noted by Lewis, Chelsea flirted with the prospect of signing the Brazilian star in January but eventually moved for Juan Cuadrado instead. But it seems that their interest in Costa has whetted his appetite for a potential switch to the Premier League and he’s made his standpoint abundantly clear moving forward.

Here is what he could potentially add to this Chelsea cause:

While Costa has the class to cut it at the very top level with an elite European side, he’s a player that needs to be clever when plotting his next move. After all, with Cuadrado in situ alongside the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Cesc Fabregas, where would the Shakhtar star fit into this squad of high-class players?

At 24 years old, he’s definitely ready for a move away from Ukraine and seems enamoured by the Blues following on from their midseason interest. But at this juncture, moving to Chelsea would hamper his development; as such it’s imperative Costa takes some time to mull over his options and potential subsequent first-team opportunities.