Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Ramires, Layvin Kurzawa

Juventus are reportedly once again trying to sign Chelsea midfielder Ramires, according to the London Evening Standard's Simon Johnson, with the Italian champions hoping to get a deal done before the end of the transfer window.

Johnson claims the Bianconeri have identified the Brazilian as the perfect addition following the departures of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal and Sami Khedira's injury:

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Juventus have reignited their interest in Chelsea midfielder Ramires and are hoping sign the midfielder this month.

The Italian champions have made an enquiry for the Brazil international as they look to strengthen their squad. ...

Juventus have been keen on Ramires for some time and hope Chelsea will be prepared to negotiate.

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The 28-year-old has become a fringe player at Stamford Bridge, used mainly as a substitute to spell the likes of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas in the centre of the pitch. It's a far cry from the starring role he played in 2012, with his magnificent goal against Barcelona undoubtedly the highlight of that season.

Ramires remains a favourite of manager Jose Mourinho due to his versatility and work rate, but at this point he's little more than a depth option. A sale would make sense, opening up a spot for a talented youngster to join the squad and see more minutes.

James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images

The problem is that Juventus makes little sense as a destination. Even without Pirlo, Vidal and Khedira (the latter will only miss the start of the season), the Bianconeri have incredible depth in the centre of the pitch.

Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio are locks to start under manager Massimiliano Allegri, and Roberto Pereyra may even keep Khedira on the bench when he returns to form.

And then there's highly touted Stefano Sturaro, who Bleacher Report's Adam Digby thinks may be the biggest beneficiary of Khedira's injury. The youngster made quite the impression last season and only got better with time:

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As the campaign progressed, Sturaro was given more and more opportunities, culminating in a surprise starting berth against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. He would capture attention across the continent with a mature display, making a vital intervention to deflect a point-blank header from James Rodriguez away from goal. ...

Named to the starting XI once again on Saturday as Allegri’s side lifted the Italian Super Cup...Stefano Sturaro is almost certainly the player poised to take advantage of Khedira’s prolonged absence.

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Yes, Juventus wouldn't mind seeing a veteran midfielder who could contribute immediately, and Chelsea fans would love for Mourinho to make a deal for Ramires―just listen to what Mourinholic had to say:

But the Old Lady has no need to throw a significant transfer fee at yet another midfielder, and if Juve do make an offer for Ramires, it will likely be substantially lower than what fans would hope for. The Italians don't have the budget to spend large sums on players they don't really need, and it makes little sense to sell Ramires, who can still contribute, for pennies on the dollar.

Ramires may still leave Stamford Bridge, although it's more likely he'll stay for another season, until someone like Ruben Loftus-Cheek firmly establishes himself as a regular contributor. But if the Brazilian does leave, don't expect Turin to be his destination.

Layvin Kurzawa an Alternative for Abdul Rahman Baba?

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

According to Le10sport.com (h/t Metro's Tom Olver), the Blues have a backup plan in place should their move for Augsburg's Abdul Rahman Baba fall through, as they plan to target AS Monaco's Layvin Kurzawa:

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It is thought the Blues have wrapped up a deal for Augsburg’s Rahman, but Jose Mourinho is considering signing Kurzawa should the move fail.

The 22-year-old French left-back has made 73 appearances for Monaco since his first-team debut in 2010, but has reportedly told the club he wants to move this summer.

Arsene Wenger is also thought to be a big fan of Kurzawa, so Chelsea may have a fight on their hands with Arsenal to sign the defender.

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The young full-back has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the season for Monaco, scoring three goals in his first three matches, as noted by WhoScored.com. French Football Weekly have noticed:

The 22-year-old is supremely talented, offering a great combination of raw athleticism and technical ability in the attacking third. Like many young full-backs, he's not a natural defender and does most of his damage on the other side of the pitch.

Injuries have been an issue, however. As reported by transfermarkt.co.uk, he has missed significant time in each of the past two seasons, which is arguably the main reason why he has yet to establish himself as a bona fide star.

Kurzawa would make for an excellent alternative should the move for Rahman Baba fall through―but in all likelihood, that won't be the case. The move seems all but complete, via the Sun's Martin Lipton, and fans can likely expect an official announcement soon.

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