Chelsea Transfer News: Fresh Antoine Griezmann and Anderson Talisca Rumours

Antoine Griezmann has been one of the stars of the La Liga campaign, and reports claim Chelsea are set to trigger the release clause of the French international in an attempt to lure him to Stamford Bridge.

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t George Bellshaw of Metro), a fee of £43.5 million is enough for an obligatory acceptance from the Spanish champions. Griezmann joined up at the Vicente Calderon last summer, helping Diego Simeone’s side compensate for the loss of top goalscorer Diego Costa.

Here are a selection of many highlights from the winger’s first season in the Spanish capital:

On the face of it, it’s easy to see why a manager like Jose Mourinho would be interested in the player. Not only is Griezmann an effervescent and incisive threat at the sharp end of the pitch, but he’s a player who is unrelenting in his work rate too, making him the perfect fit for Simeone’s demanding set of principles.

With that in mind, it is little surprise he has flourished this season, as noted by AS English:

His versatility means that if Chelsea were to pull off the signing, the 24-year-old could slot into a variety of different roles. The Atletico man is at his best playing from the left but has showcased his class in more central, advanced roles this season as well.

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Chelsea will be looking for players who can come in and make an impact in the first team, and while he may be expensive, Griezmann undoubtedly ticks all the boxes for Mourinho. As such, it would be no surprise to see the Blues stump up the cash this summer and bolster their attacking options with another vibrant option.

Blues Chasing Benfica Duo

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According to Metro, the Stamford Bridge club had scouts at the clash between Portuguese giants Benfica and Porto at the weekend, reportedly running the rule over Anderson Talisca and Nicolas Gaitan.

The piece suggests Chelsea have watched the former on “numerous occasions” throughout the season, while the latter has emerged as a “new target” for the Blues, according to reports in Portugal.

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

Talisca is a particularly intriguing proposition for the club, having burst onto the scene in Benfica colours this season with 11 goals in all competitions, per WhoScored.com. Here’s a closer look at the kind of qualities he would bring to Chelsea:

Despite his clear talent, at this juncture a move to Chelsea wouldn’t be ideal for the 21-year-old. The reason the Brazilian is performing so well this season is down to the regular minutes he’s receiving at the Estadio da Luz. Should he move to London, the chances of getting just as many games would be very unlikely.

Gaitan is a much more likely option for the Blues. As noted here by Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell, the Argentina midfielder has been excellent for his club this season:

Gaitan has been a standout player with Benfica for a while now, and at the age of 27, he’ll feel as though he’s earned the right to test himself in a more illustrious league should the chance arise. There’s little doubt he has the quality to thrive in Spain and England, but he’ll also want to move to a team where he’d be a critical figure.

At Chelsea his talent would see him fit in seamlessly, and his intricate style of play off the flanks would give the Blues a different edge to their attacking forays. However, first-team football will surely be a requisite criterion for any potential suitor, and it’s tough to see how the Blues can offer those reassurances with so many quality options in this part of the squad.