Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Marco Verratti and Niklas Sule

Chelsea are reportedly “confident” they can sign Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti after launching a £30 million bid, but Hoffenheim will not sell standout defender Niklas Sule.

According to the Daily Mail (h/t Metro), PSG will hold out for more than the £30 million the Blues are said to be offering for Verratti, but Chelsea believe the Italian wouldn't cost the club more than £40 million.

Verratti's agent Donato Di Campli has dropped several hints his client could leave Les Parisiens in the near future, while Italy coach Giampiero Ventura believes the player isn't happy.

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The 24-year-old moved to the French capital from Pescara in 2012, and while he has found great success in Ligue 1 and has developed into a fine midfielder, a lack of silverware in the UEFA Champions League has led to plenty of speculation.

Verratti appears to have reached his ceiling with PSG, and a move seems a real possibility. Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe is one of many who would like to see the playmaker in a different kit:

Known for his vision, passing range and tenacious defending, Verratti has often drawn comparisons to former Juventus and AC Milan star Andrea Pirlo. Like Pirlo, he has the ability to unlock an entire defence with a single pass.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte built his Italian national team around the abilities of Verratti, and it was a major blow for the Azzurri when he dropped out of UEFA Euro 2016 due to injuries. Conte is a known fan of the midfielder, so these latest reports shouldn't come as a surprise.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Should Verratti become available, the presence of Conte will likely move Chelsea toward the top of the list of contenders for his signature. One club will likely sit above the Blues, however, as the player has never made a secret of the fact he's a lifelong Juventus fan, per Goal's Joe Wright.

The Bianconeri have a need for another quality midfielder following the sale of Paul Pogba, so expect them to push hard for Verratti if he does decide to leave PSG.

Meanwhile, David Woods of the Daily Star reports Hoffenheim have no interest in selling star defender Sule, who has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs. Per the report, Chelsea already tried to sign the German during the summer to no avail.

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His agent Karlheinz Forster told Bild (h/t ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld) it was Sule who rejected the move, and Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen has now once again dashed the Blues' hopes of landing their man.

When asked whether the 21-year-old will leave in January, he gave a simple answer, saying: “I can definitely exclude that.”

Sule has long been regarded as one of Germany's top talents at the centre-back position, combining great athleticism and vision with surprising ability in the passing game. Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Hoffenheim are enjoying an excellent season in the Bundesliga. With Champions League qualification within their reach, they're not expected to sell any of their top players in January.

Coupled with the youngster's reluctance to leave the squad right now, it's hard to see this transfer go through.