Chelsea Transfer News: Gonzalo Higuain, Antonio Rudiger, Latest Blues Rumours
Napoli have revealed they will listen to offers for star striker Gonzalo Higuain, amid reported interest of Chelsea and Manchester United, while incoming Blues manager Antonio Conte is willing to spend up to £25 million to bring AS Roma defender Antonio Rudiger to Stamford Bridge.
In-form Higuain has been linked with a host of top clubs around the continent, including Arsenal and Liverpool, per Charlie Phillippe of the Daily Express, but up until now, Napoli were adamant the Argentina international wouldn't leave the Stadio San Paolo at the end of this season.
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Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis' stance may be softening, however. Per Mark Brus of Metro, he told reporters there haven't been any offers yet, but the Partenopei will consider bids: "We haven’t received any offers for Higuain.
"In principle he will stay with us. In any case there is a buyout clause, thought to be around 94 million (euros). If any offers come we will listen to them."
Per WhoScored.com, the 28-year-old has scored an absurd 30 goals in Serie A this season, almost single-handedly keeping Napoli's title dreams alive. Here's a look at his highlights:
The former Real Madrid man has been among the best strikers in all of Europe this season, and his hot form was always going to invite transfer speculation. The fact he plays for Napoli, a club that has found limited international success the last few seasons, only adds to the intrigue.
After their hot start to the season, the Partenopei have once again fallen behind Juventus in the Serie A title race, and the 2015-16 campaign looks likely to be another disappointing one for Napoli. After years of trying, they still haven't found a way past Juventus, and a new direction is needed.
Higuain has won just one Coppa Italia with Napoli since moving to the Italian peninsula, and he too may be growing tired of fighting a losing battle against Juventus. Per OptaJose, he certainly isn't to blame for Napoli's collapse―he's come up huge in key moments all season long:
Given his importance to the club, Napoli won't sell at a bargain price, and his buy-out clause sits at roughly £75 million, which is a huge sum for a 28-year-old forward. But with these latest comments, De Laurentiis at least opened the door to negotiations, and that's good news for all interested parties.
According to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, current Chelsea striker Diego Costa is desperate to leave the Blues this summer, and while Conte has been assured the Spain international won't be sold, the incoming manager will still be looking at alternative options.
The Blues need depth, first and foremost, and if Costa is so eager to leave the club, a star replacement would also be welcome. Higuain could be that player, but £75 million is a big ask for a player whose prime will end in a few years, particularly for a Chelsea team that will enter a rebuilding stage next season.
Meanwhile, Calciomercato.com and Fichajes.net (h/t Daily Star's Alex Wood) claim Conte is desperate to land Roma defender Rudiger, who joined the Giallorossi on loan from Stuttgart last season. Roma have to pay an additional £7 million to make the deal permanent this summer.
Per Calciomercato, he's currently valued at £15.9 million, and a strong showing at the upcoming UEFA Euro 2016 tournament could increase his price by a further £10 million, per Fichajes. Here's a look at some of his highlights from this season:
The 23-year-old has been touted as one of the top prospects at the centre-back position for years due to his incredible athletic ability and technique. He's finally starting to realise his potential in Italy, learning not to take unnecessary risks and playing smart football.
He's still a bit of a project, but the raw talent is there, and it's easy to see why Conte would be keen on adding the Germany international.
Convincing Roma to sell will be a whole other matter, however. The Giallorossi invested in Rudiger as a result of the Alessio Romagnoli transfer saga, which ended with the Italian moving to AC Milan. Roma won't want to lose star talents at the centre-back position in back-to-back summer windows, so even £25 million might not be enough to secure Rudiger.
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