Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Players and Signings Linked to Blues

Chelsea have reportedly made a sensational £42 million bid for Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani.

The Uruguayan frontman has been linked every which way over the past few transfer windows, with Arsenal and Manchester United said to have chased his signature down the years.

However, it’s 2014/15 Premier League champions Chelsea who are looking to steal a march on their rivals, as French outlet Le 10 Sport reported the Blues have laid their cards on the table for Cavani (via Mark Brus of Metro).

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

Chelsea staged the worst defence of a Premier League title last term, with quality in depth proving a real issue throughout the campaign.

When the likes of star striker Diego Costa and winger Eden Hazard picked up injuries, there was no one in the ranks who could pick up the pieces.

And although Costa’s future at Stamford Bridge is still up in the air, bringing in a player of Cavani’s quality would do nothing but bolster Antonio Conte’s squad.

The 29-year-old scored 19 goals and created five more in Ligue 1 last term, according to WhoScored.com, despite constant speculation about his happiness at the Parc des Princes.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Cavani occasionally found himself on the PSG bench last season, yet that’s all set to change in 2016/17.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s switch to Manchester United means Cavani will likely be instrumental to PSG’s plans. As such, they’ll be reluctant to accept just £42 million for his services.

Brus wrote that the French champions would hold out for a fee in the region of £67 million.

Elsewhere, the Blues are said to be ready to finally land a new centre-back, as they prepare to meet Victor Lindelof’s release clause.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

That’s according to Tony Banks of the Daily Express, who reported the Benfica man is available for £25 million and that Chelsea are keen to snap him up.

The west Londoners have reportedly tried and failed to bring in John Stones, Leonardo Bonucci, Kostas Manolas and Kalidou Koulibaly of late, per Banks, but they could finally get the defensive rock they need in Lindelof.

Chelsea have been rather quiet on the transfer front this summer, but they desperately need to spring into life if they’re going to make up for last season’s dire display and rejoin the Premier League elite.

A couple of defenders, a midfielder and a striker should do the trick for Conte, but he needs to spend wisely rather than buying for the sake of it.