Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Radamel Falcao Rumours

Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger is unwilling to use Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a swap deal for Chelsea stopper Petr Cech, but the Blues are set to conclude a season-long loan move for Radamel Falcao.

The Mirror's John Cross reports that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is looking to take Oxlade-Chamberlain from the Gunners if Cech is to move in the opposite direction, but Wenger is focused on cutting a straight-cash deal. Cross quotes Mourinho as saying last month, "Every club that is interested in Petr, I can find a player that I like in that team too.”

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Considering the west Londoners' financial muscle, it's of little surprise to see Mourinho seeking reimbursement if he's to let his reserve goalkeeper move, especially to a Premier League rival.

According to Christophe Lollichon, Cech's goalkeeping coach of the last decade and personal manager, the 33-year-old wants to remain in England, per Miguel Perez of Spanish newspaper Sport:

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Cech still has three of four years of excellence at the top level left. He wants to do that for an important team and in England.

A lot has been said about the interest from PSG, but the problem is when you have played in England, Ligue 1 isn't a draw in comparison to the Premier League. Tottenham? They are not a club that can have the same aspirations as Arsenal.

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Oxlade-Chamberlain created 35 scoring chances in 23 Premier League appearances last season, per Squawka, but was relegated to the sidelines by a hamstring injury during the second half of the season.

As Dan Levy of France 24 attests, the 21-year-old is showing signs of great development at the Emirates Stadium and stands out as one of Wenger's favoured stars:

Following the January capture of Juan Cuadrado, it would be difficult to envision where The Ox fits in at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea continues their steady rotation of attacking midfield talent.

Mourinho already has his Cech replacement in sight, too, as Goal.com alleged Stoke City's Asmir Begovic as the supposed target to back up Thibaut Courtois:

A deal for Cech may also rest largely on whether Wenger views goalkeeping reinforcements as an absolute necessity, with Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina currently duelling for the No. 1 jersey.

In any case, it seems unlikely that the Frenchman—never one to be forced into transfer business—would be desperate enough to sign Cech and allow Oxlade-Chamberlain to leave in his place.

Falcao Closes on Second Premier League Switch

Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press

Despite the disappointments of a dismal 2014-15 campaign with Manchester United, Radamel Falcao appears to have earned himself another big-money loan this summer, as Chelsea look set to "rubber-stamp" his signing.

That's according to Darren Lewis of the Mirror, who adds that the Blues will be able to purchase the Colombian on a permanent deal next summer for a fee of £35 million:

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Chelsea are poised to rubber-stamp a £7.2million loan deal for Radamel Falcao. The champions will have an option to keep the 29-year-old striker at Stamford Bridge for another £35million if he proves a hit next season.

The move means Falcao will be reunited with his former Atletico Madrid team-mate Diego Costa.

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It makes for an intriguing change of dynamic in west London, with former Atleti comrades Falcao and Diego Costa looking likely to duke it out for Mourinho's leading striker role.

Both Falcao and Cuadrado will be in the hunt to improve upon recent club performances, but Colombia coach Jose Pekerman says the duo will be a hit playing alongside one another, per Goal's Liam Twomey:

"I've no doubts that Falcao and Cuadrado are going to help each other at Chelsea. They are going to be a success."

Jon Super/Associated Press

Former Fiorentina ace Cuadrado completed his switch to Chelsea in the winter but endured a difficult first six months at Stamford Bridge, while Falcao slipped down the Manchester United pecking order.

South American football writer Carl Worswick goes on to quote Cuadrado as saying he's also hopeful of what the two can produce:

Having a familiar face at the club will aid Falcao in any settling, but the questions still remain as to whether the last term was nothing more than an anomaly—or if the forward isn't suited to the Premier League.

Mourinho looks willing to take the same risk United did in any case and will hope his impending signature can prove his doubters wrong and cast a more prolific figure in west London.