Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Riyad Mahrez and Shkodran Mustafi Rumours

Chelsea are reportedly keen to add Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez to their ranks this summer after completing a deal for his former team-mate, N’Golo Kante.

The Blues confirmed the capture of Kante on Saturday, and Mahrez is next up on the wish list of Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte, according to Neil Fissler of the Sunday Express. “Conte has made no secret of his desire to sign a goalscorer, and PFA Player of the Year Mahrez, who hit 17 last season, fits the bill,” he added.

Leicester surged to a shock Premier League title win last term with their brilliant, direct counter-attacking football. Mahrez is a player who provided the inventiveness and composure to complement the Foxes’ otherwise frenetic style, excelling as the team’s creative fulcrum.

These numbers from WhoScored.com show just how effective he was in terms of making chances for his team-mates and finishing them, too:

It would be a huge blow to the champions if they were to lose the Algeria international.

After Jamie Vardy committed his future to the club in the form of a new contract earlier in the window, the summer seemed to be getting off to a positive start for Leicester. But with Kante gone and speculation swirling over Mahrez, their summer is now in danger of unravelling.

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Not that Chelsea will mind, of course. Kante is a tremendous acquisition for the club, and the same could be said for Mahrez if they were to land him. According to Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail, the player has been weighing up his options for a while:

If Mahrez traded Leicester blue for Chelsea blue, it would leave Conte with a plethora of attacking options. Indeed, Pedro, Willian and Eden Hazard will all be battling for a starting spot in the wide positions, too.

So the Algerian would have to work hard for his position in the team if he was to move to Stamford Bridge. Nevertheless, he will feel he possesses the class to make a major impression at an established Premier League giant.

Chelsea Turn to Shkodran Mustafi

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According to Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror, Chelsea will turn to Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi in a bid to bolster their defensive options.

Malyon suggested that their hopes of securing Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus are fading, and Conte will look to the Germany international Mustafi to stiffen up their defence.

Malyon added that Valencia are happy to move the centre-back on, as they seek to raise funds and stave off interest in star midfielder Andre Gomes.

Here’s a look at why the former Everton man is said to be valued at around the £25 million mark by Los Che:

One of the hallmarks of Conte’s Juventus team was the brilliant defensive shape he fashioned. It’s something he’ll be keen to instill at Stamford Bridge, and an ageing John Terry and Gary Cahill may not be up to the standard required.

The Valencia man could well be. As these numbers from WhoScored.com show, Mustafi is relentless in his efforts to win back possession for his team:

The 24-year-old has made rapid progress since he left the Toffees, and at Valencia, he blossomed into one of the standout defenders in the division. Mustafi reads the game brilliantly for a player who’s still relatively young, although he possesses the dynamism to make last-ditch tackles if needed as well.

Alongside Kurt Zouma, who has great physical strength that leads to aerial dominance, there would be the potential for an excellent long-term partnership. In the current market, a fee of £25 million for a defender of Mustafi’s calibre represents fine value for money.