Chelsea transfer targets: Sancho, Dembele & players linked with the club

Chelsea are free to explore their options in the transfer market this January following the lifting of their FIFA-imposed ban on signing players by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Blues boss Frank Lampard has thus far managed to get the best out of the squad available to him, elevating a number of former academy players to the first team, but he is in need of a personnel boost.

Areas of the team that are relatively weak include up front and the left-back positions, so the club hierarchy are eager to get their business done to help Lampard's cause in the pursuit of glory.

Goal will keep you on top of all the latest transfer news - with insight from our Blues correspondent Nizaar Kinsella - rumours and gossip regarding Chelsea's targets right here with regular updates.

Contents

1. Top Chelsea transfer targets
2. Latest Chelsea transfer news & rumours
3. Potential Chelsea exits
4. Confirmed Chelsea transfers

Top Chelsea transfer targets

Jadon Sancho is at the top of Chelsea's transfer wishlist and the Blues are understood to be willing to smash their transfer record in order to persuade Borussia Dortmund to let him leave.

The England international is in high demand and Chelsea will face competition from Manchester United, hence their willingness to splash out well over £70 million ($90m) for the winger.

Sancho's close personal relationships with Chelsea players Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham, who he knows well from the England set-up, is believed to be a particular draw.

Ideally, the Blues would be able to secure the 19-year-old's services in January, but Dortmund are resistant to the idea of losing a key first-team player at this point in the season.

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RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner is another one of Chelsea's top targets as Frank Lampard looks to really boost his attacking options for the remainder of the campaign.

While Werner is open to the idea of leaving Leipzig and is understood to have a transfer release clause in his contract, he is believed to be content to postpone any such considerations until after Euro 2020.

Edinson Cavani has emerged as a target too and the Blues have made a loan offer for the Uruguayan, but they will have to make an enticing offer to gazump Atletico Madrid.

Another attacker who is desired at Chelsea is former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele  and the Blues are willing to spend big to buy him from Lyon, with a fee in the region of €40 million (£34m/$45m) reported.

Lyon have, however, rejected reports that they are open to a sale, issuing a statement which indicated their strong wish to keep him at the club "for seasons to come". 

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Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will put up firm resistance to any pursuit of Wilfried Zaha and they are unlikely to budge from their asking price of £80 million ($105m).

Genk midfielder Sander Berge is also a Chelsea target, though the Norwegian has a long list of clubs tracking his availability, including Liverpool, Napoli and a number of other Serie A clubs.

England left-back  Ben Chilwell is highly regarded by Lampard too, but it is unlikely that Leicester City will be willing to sell, considering how important he is to Brendan Rodgers' team.

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Latest Chelsea transfer news & rumours 

Inter had reached verbal agreement with Chelsea over Giroud

According to RMC Sport, Chelsea had agreed to let Olivier Giroud to depart for Inter earlier this month – until the Italian club sanctioned the purchase of Christian Eriksen from Tottenham.

Giroud is now likely to remain in west London until the summer.

Blues boss expecting no deadline day deals

Lampard is not expecting any late movement on deadline day, despite his efforts to target another striker.

Interest in Dries Mertens and Olivier Giroud has not materialised, with the club likely to instead sanction loan moves.

Asked if there was any chance of signing Mertens late on in the game, Lampard merely said: “No”.

Full story!

Spurs make Giroud offer

Chelsea attacker Olivier Giroud has been offered an 18-month contract by Tottenham, reports Gianluca Di Marzio. 

Inter had been leading the race to sign the Frenchman this month but have seemingly delayed any deal until the end of the season. 

In light of that news, Spurs have been quick to offer Giroud a deal with Jose Mourinho's side desperate for a striker in the wake of a long-term injury to Harry Kane. 

Lamptey weighs up Lille & Torino offers

Chelsea youngster Tariq Lamptey has been approached with pre-contract agreements from Lille, Torino and an unnamed Premier League club as he weighs up his future.

Full story from Nizaar Kinsella here!

Tuchel delivers Cavani transfer update

Paris Saint Germain manager Thomas Tuchel claims he has no news on Edinson Cavani or Layvin Kurzawa as both men continue to be touted for moves away from the club.

Goal has reported that Cavani has verbally agreed to join Atletico Madrid before the winter transfer deadline, but they are not the only club thought to be chasing his services.

Chelsea have made contact with the Uruguay international's representatives to discuss a possible loan deal, while Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in the experienced striker.

Full story here!

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Potential Chelsea exits

Victor Moses had his loan term at Fenerbahce cut short in order to join Inter on loan, reuniting with former boss Antonio Conte in the process. Inter have an option to buy the winger.

Marcos Alonso could be on the way out of Stamford Bridge as well, with Conte keen to bring the Spain international to Inter too.

However, while Alonso would be open to a reunion with the Italian coach, it is understood that the Serie A giants could struggle to meet Chelsea's asking price.

A Barcelona return has been touted for Pedro as the World Cup winner toils for minutes, though such a move seems unlikely given his advancing years. 

The winger is on the radar of Aston Villa as well as a number of clubs in Major League Soccer, including New York City and LA Galaxy.

It appears that Olivier Giroud is set for an exit and it could happen in January, with a number of clubs - such as Inter, Newcastle United and Lyon - in the mix. 

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Confirmed Chelsea January window transfers

Chelsea signings

Chelsea departures

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