Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Blues Targets, Rumours, Stars Eyed Before Summer

Chelsea’s incoming manager Antonio Conte is reportedly keen on landing Inter Milan man Ivan Perisic, who could be available for as little as £12 million.

That’s according to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t James Gray of the Daily Express), which stated the Serie A side will look to move the Croatia international on this summer, although they are keen to at least recoup the aforementioned sum they parted with to sign the player from Wolfsburg last August.

“Conte is said to have his eye on Perisic as he seeks to revamp the squad at Stamford Bridge,” said Gray.

However, Inter Milan president Erick Thohir has stated a move won't happen, per ESPN FC's Ben Gladwell.

"

"They are staying here and people can ask us for them as much as they want, we're not letting them go," Thohir told Il Corriere dello Sport. "We've got a strategy. We want to have 16 players of the same value. They don't necessarily have to be superstars, but we are involved in the league and the Europa League and we're going to need to rotate a lot.

"We will decide together who comes -- it's not going to be just me saying 'buy him.' All our decisions have always been made together and that includes [coach Roberto] Mancini and all the staff. We have all got to agree and reflect on what is best for the squad, not just for the president or for the coach."

"

Perisic is an extremely gifted player, and he impressed in spells during his debut term at the San Siro. Here are some of his best moments from 2015-16:

The 27-year-old would potentially be a savvy addition should a move actually take place. He can operate across midfield and even as a centre-forward when needed; it’s versatility that epitomises his footballing intelligence, with the player able to find space, control possession and drive at opposition players with a purpose.

In the early weeks of his Inter career, the Nerazzurri supporters didn’t see these qualities too frequently. But as these figures from WhoScored.com show, he started to come good before the end of the campaign:

With that in mind, it’d be peculiar to see Inter cash in on the player, especially for what’d be a meagre amount in the eyes of plenty. Perisic may not have set Serie A alight in his first campaign with the club, but his stock certainly hasn’t regressed; he’s capable of improving a lot of elite sides on the continent.

Additionally, Chelsea probably don’t require a player of his ilk. They already have plenty of talented attacking midfielders, and it’s difficult to see Perisic ousting one of Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian or Pedro for a spot in the starting XI at Stamford Bridge.

Borussia Monchengladbach to Break Bank for Andreas Christensen

Boris Streubel/Getty Images

According to Bild (h/t Uche Amako of the Daily Express), Borussia Monchengladbach are ready to break their transfer record in an attempt to clinch a permanent deal for Andreas Christensen.

The Bundesliga side recently cashed in on skipper Granit Xhaka, who moved to Arsenal. And it’s suggested in the piece that BMG will use some of the funds from that sale to make Christensen’s two-year loan deal with the club permanent, with a £15 million fee suggested.

Here is a look at why the German club could be keen to capture the Chelsea defender, who impressed in the first year of his temporary move:

As noted by ESPN FC’s Liam Twomey earlier this year, it seems as though the Blues are in no rush to bring the 20-year-old back to Stamford Bridge:

With Kurt Zouma, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic and captain John Terry at the club, that’s no surprise. While the Denmark international has excelled at Borussia-Park, all of the aforementioned names are proven in the Premier League and will be viewed as much more reliable figures by Conte. Another year out on loan would be superb for the youngster’s development too.

Felipe Dana/Associated Press

The Blues would surely be wary of agreeing to a transfer, though. After all, players such as Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne shone on loan away from the club before being sold; Chelsea could definitely do with both of those now. Christensen has the talent to be another player the club could come to regret moving on.