Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Mauro Icardi, Pedro, Paulo Dybala Rumours

Chelsea's pursuit of Internazionale forward Mauro Icardi is ongoing, with reports claiming the Blues remain confident the 22-year-old will decide to join them.

According to Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard, the newly crowned champions stepped up their interest in the player earlier in the year. Icardi is also apparently keen on a move to Stamford Bridge and is holding off on signing a new deal with the Nerazzurri.

Bleacher Report's Matteo Bonetti took a closer look at how the Argentinian might fit in at Stamford Bridge:

Johnson claims that a deal for Icardi could cost Chelsea around £22 million and that the Blues are willing to give the forward a major upgrade on the £38,000-a-week wages Inter are currently offering.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

The Inter man would add something different to this Chelsea lineup. He's a multifaceted centre-forward capable of playing with his back to goal or running in behind. As his 20 goals in all competitions this season illustrate, per WhoScored.com, he's a player who knows where the back of the net is too.

Bleacher Report's Adam Digby rates him highly:

"

Icardi is absolutely money in front of goal. Second or third best striker in Serie A for me depending on Higuain's mood

— Adam Digby (@Adz77) April 25, 2015"

But as Johnson notes, if Icardi moved to Chelsea, he would merely be a back-up for Diego Costa at this juncture. For a young player like Icardi, continuing to get regular minutes is imperative, and he'll have to ensure he gets the requisite reassurances regarding first-team football from Jose Mourinho before making a decision on any transfer.

Paulo Dybala Decision Imminent

Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

The future of Palermo's star striker Paulo Dybala looked set to be one of the transfer wrangles of the summer, but Maurizio Zamparini, the Serie A club's president, has claimed the player’s future could be decided within 10 days.

Speaking with Italian newspaper Giornale di Sicilia (h/t Ben Burrows of the Daily Mirror), Zamparini also revealed there are a number of interested teams:

"

At least three teams are really interested in him. The apple is ripe and we are ready to pick it.

I think in 10, or a maximum of 15 days we will know his future. We will meet with the player and his agent to complete the deal. Those who understand football realise his potential.

"

Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

As noted by Burrows, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Juventus have all been linked with the young striker, who has dazzled in Serie A throughout this campaign. Should he end up at Stamford Bridge, his intricate, effervescent style of forward play could be a brilliant foil for the rest of the club's attacking talent.

Dybala has been a creative force for Palermo this season, as we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com:

The same issues regarding first-team football apply here, though. For a player who is young and on a sharp upward curve, getting regular game time is vital. At Chelsea, Dybala would be drafted in and out of the side, while the other aforementioned teams would be able to accommodate him in a more significant role.

Chelsea Keen on Pedro

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

According to Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail, the Blues have made Pedro a surprise summer target after being made aware of his availability earlier this year.

The Barcelona winger has fallen out of favour since the arrival of Luis Suarez at the Camp Nou, and there have been myriad rumours regarding his long-term future. As noted here by Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez, Pedro's form has suffered drastically as a result:

It's tough to see this one materialising, though. The Spanish international is a fierce and industrious player at his best, but since Pep Guardiola left Barcelona in 2012, we've not seen the best of him.

Chelsea already have options aplenty in the attacking midfield positions too. Indeed, if they're going to strengthen the sharp end of the pitch, they should be looking at superstar names, as Bleacher Report Blues correspondent Garry Hayes discusses here:

If he still possesses that incision and intensity, then Pedro could be a coup for Chelsea. But it's been so long since we were witness to the Spanish international playing at full tilt, and with that in mind, it's unlikely Mourinho will gamble on signing him this summer.