Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Alex Song, Charlie Austin Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly talking to Barcelona regarding the availability of midfielder Alex Song as the Blues attempt to strengthen their midfield depth with an experienced Premier League contributor who would carry the status of a home-grown player.

According to the Telegraph's Matt Law, West Ham United are unwilling to pay the £5 million fee the Blaugrana are demanding after Song completed his year-long loan with the Hammers, and Chelsea could take advantage:

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West Ham United are trying to convince Barcelona to let them sign Alex Song on a free transfer, although talks have also taken place over a potential switch to Chelsea.

Barca are believed to have valued Song at around £5million, but the Hammers have suggested that they sign the midfielder for free and take on his entire £70,000-a-week wages.

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Song isn't the type of signing that will inspire the Chelsea fanbase—and he won't be a regular starter for the Blues—but as a home-grown player who has tons of Premier League experience, he could present the club with the kind of depth that shouldn't be too expensive and will be productive when called upon.

According to talkSPORT, Blues fans aren't unanimously in favour of the move, but in the age of financial fair play and the home-grown quota, not every signing can be a world-class option:

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is widely expected to be a member of Chelsea's senior squad next year, and he should play a significant role throughout the season. With Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas expected to start the season in the centre of the pitch and Loftus-Cheek on the bench, the Blues have enough quality to get through the season.

Song would represent an upgrade over John Obi Mikel, however, and manager Jose Mourinho knows you can never have too much depth. Chelsea's midfield remained relatively injury-free throughout the 2014-15 campaign―another season like that is no guarantee.

The former Cameroon international may not be the kind of signing that pushes Chelsea to the next level, but adding him to the squad won't hurt the Blues. At the least, it will annoy Arsenal fans, and that in itself should be enough to convince the fans to go through with the move.

Odds Slashed on Charlie Austin Transfer

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Speaking of home-grown players who could be on their way to Stamford Bridge to provide depth, Metro's George Bellshaw reports that betting companies have slashed the odds on Charlie Austin's proposed move from Queens Park Rangers to Chelsea.

QPR reportedly want £15 million for their top striker, who would replace Didier Drogba as the third option up front for the Blues, behind Diego Costa and Loic Remy.

This particular move is a little more puzzling, however. Radamel Falcao seems destined to end up at Stamford Bridge, although he's staying as cryptic as possible while on international duty for Colombia, per beIN Sports' Tancredi Palmeri:

Should Falcao make the move, Remy is expected to be sold for £15 million, per Law, the same fee QPR are demanding for Austin. The latter had a strong season in 2014-15, displaying his scoring touch with 18 goals, per WhoScored.com, but he has never played for a top club―no one knows whether his ability to score will carry over to the highest level.

Swapping Remy for Austin makes little sense, and unless the former is desperate to leave Stamford Bridge―just one year after joining Chelsea―it's hard to justify this move. Fans would rather see Patrick Bamford return from loan, but while the youngster impressed with Middlesbrough, it remains to be seen whether he's ready for a Premier League role.

Bleacher Report's Garry Hayes thinks the team will bring Bamford along slowly, similar to Kurt Zouma, who had to bide his time and was initially used to support John Terry and Gary Cahill.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Should Austin move to Stamford Bridge, you have to assume the team would send Bamford out on loan again, this time to a Premier League club. That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for the youngster, giving him a chance to continue playing regular minutes.

Falcao and Costa have both proved to be injury-prone in the past, and the latter plays a physical brand of football that results in plenty of cards and suspensions. Despite that, Austin likely wouldn't play too much for the Blues, and you have to wonder why the striker wouldn't prefer a move to a mid-table club, where he could be a regular starter and fight for a spot in one of the European competitions.

All things considered, it's difficult to see the logic behind this move, but the fact that betting companies are slashing the odds on its happening speaks for itself. Austin is a solid scorer, as is Falcao, so if this transfer does materialise, the Blues will have added a lot of firepower to their attack.

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