Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Marcelo Brozovic, Moussa Sissoko Rumours

The agent of Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic has revealed his client turned down a summer transfer move to Chelsea. The Croatian is set to sign a new contract with a hefty £42 million release clause to deter the Blues, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool from making another move in January.

Speaking to Goal (h/t Daily Star's Jamie Anderson), his representative Miroslav Bicanic guaranteed Brozovic will commit to the Nerazzurri, saying:

"

Yes, it is official Brozo will stay in Inter. Otherwise, he would have been on the plane to London and not with national team in Sisak.

After he returns from Croatia, Marcelo will sign a new, improved contract with Inter.

With it he will earn less than he would have if he had signed for Chelsea, but he feels comfortable in Inter, he knows the city and the club will play in Europa League.

He didn't want to rush to England because there is a new coach, Frank De Boer, at Inter.

"

La Gazetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) added that the new contract will contain a release clause of roughly £42 million, which can only be triggered by foreign clubs. Italian clubs are starting to use such clauses more often after Juventus brought Miralem Pjanic and Gonzalo Higuain into the fold from AS Roma and Napoli, respectively.

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Brozovic has been linked with a move away from the Italian fashion capital almost from the moment he joined the club on loan in the winter of 2015. The constant chatter surrounding the 23-year-old has been somewhat surprising, as Brozovic has proved himself to be a solid midfielder for Inter and little more.

David Amoyal of Gianluca Di Marzio didn't sound overly enthusiastic when he was asked to compare Brozovic to Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas:

Brozovic's biggest asset is arguably his versatility, as Inter have used him in a variety of midfield roles. He's at his best when he's free to cut inside from the left wing, but he can also play in the centre of the pitch and be effective.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

The £42 million price tag is very steep for Brozovic, who has a ton of potential. But he might struggle to keep his spot in the Inter starting XI following the arrival of Joao Mario. Brozovic's immediate future will most likely play out in Italy, as few teams will be willing to trigger the clause in January.

Meanwhile, French daily L'Equipe (h/t Daily Express' Jack Staplehurst) reported the Blues held talks with Moussa Sissoko on transfer deadline day, but Chelsea manager Antonio Conte baulked at Newcastle United's asking price, opening the door for a move to Tottenham Hotspur instead.

Spurs ended up paying £30 million for the France international in a move that has caused plenty of debate. Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe is not a fan:

The 27-year-old enjoyed an excellent UEFA Euro 2016 tournament, which likely fuelled his value. But his performances for Newcastle last season were anything but impressive, and he already seemed to have his heart set on a move.

For all of his talent, a lack of effort was a major issue in the 2015-16 campaign, and there are few things Conte finds more important than effort. Coupled with the enormous price tag the Magpies demanded, it's easy to see why the Blues quickly left the negotiating table.