Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez is a target for several top clubs

Chelsea are interested in landing Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez but face competition from several clubs, according to SPORT (h/t Express).

The Argentine forward has impressed at Inter this season, scoring 16 goals in all competitions. The 22-year-old is also a target for Manchester City but will snub advances from the Premier League duo (h/t Express).

Barcelona are also interested in his services and believe they will nab the forward, according to the report.

The Catalan giants wanted to sign him in January but were put off by his asking price. That could change in the next transfer window as Martinez’s £92million release clause expires soon (h/t Express).

The report claims that clubs would have to pay a heftier price to land the forward and Barca believe Martinez will join them over the Premier League duo for footballing reasons.

The Argentine might not be the most prolific striker in the top leagues, but he is a talent and puts in a shift every time he is on the pitch.

Chelsea to miss out on a talent?

We have had our issues with the transfer ban since the start of this season. However, with that coming to an end, Frank Lampard does need another option up top.

Olivier Giroud has done a decent job whenever called upon while Tammy Abraham impressed at the start of the campaign.

However, Giroud is 33 and we could do with more young blood to lead the line. Abraham, for his part, also struggled for goals before the season was halted.

Lampard also brought in several youngsters this season into the team, and it will be interesting to see who we can land in the transfer window.

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Lampard has done a great job with a lack of funds this season, but we need to strengthen the side with some quality signings too.

Chelsea were unable to add fresh players to the side in January

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard will be handed £150m to rebuild the Blues in the next transfer window, according to the Daily Star (h/t Express).

Lampard was unable to land any fresh faces in the winter window, though we did sign Hakim Ziyech for the upcoming campaign.

The manager’s hands were tied at the start of this season due to the transfer ban. However, that was lifted before the winter window but we didn’t strengthen the side.

The report claims that the club has promised Lampard a £150m transfer kitty for the summer, and the boss has a few targets in mind.

Lampard wants to sign a left-back, striker, centre-back and a goalkeeper with the funds (h/t Express).

Blues have some big targets in mind

The Express adds that the manager hasn’t been convinced by Kepa Arrizabalaga this season with Willy Caballero even getting some games.

Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are two options for the goalkeeping spot (h/t Express).

Moussa Dembele of Lyon is a target to solve our attacking issues while Alex Telles is the left-back Chelsea are tracking, according to the report.

The Blues are being linked with several centre-backs and Gabriel Magalhaes of Lille is one of the options (h/t Express).

Lampard did a great job with the players at hand this season but we need more signings to improve the side.

A lack of transfers in the winter window has been problematic in our chase for Champions League football. However, the season has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There is no guarantee when football will resume next and we are sitting in fourth place currently.

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Hopefully, we hold onto that place when the season starts, and that would be a decent enough first campaign under the new gaffer.

Willian is a free agent at the end of this season

Brazilian winger Willian has revealed that Chelsea weren’t willing to offer him a long-term deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge.

The 31-year-old is a free agent at the end of the season and The Express reports that Willian seems likely to leave us.

Willian has been an excellent servant at Stamford Bridge, but the problem lies with Chelsea’s policy.

The club doesn’t offer long-term deals to players above 30, and Willian wants a three-year deal (h/t Express).

The Brazilian was speaking to Expediente Futebol and believed his time was up at the club (h/t Express):

“I think it will be very difficult for me to renew because Chelsea offered me two years, I asked for three and it ended there, we didn’t talk anymore, we didn’t negotiate anymore.

“Three years… Chelsea said it would be impossible, so for now there’s this difficulty, but nothing is impossible.”

There were reports of Willian being contacted by other clubs, however, the Brazilian rubbished such claims.

Willian also spoke about possibly returning to Brazil but still wants to play more in Europe:

“I honestly cannot say whether I will return to Brazil and end my career here, or I will end in Europe or elsewhere.

“But if I really happen to return to Brazil, Corinthians would be a cool club to end at, to play for. It was the club where I was revealed, I have a special affection.”

A blow for the Blues?

Willian is one of the most hard-working players we have in the team, but the contract policy seems to be rigid.

The Brazilian has seven goals and six assists for us this season and has put in some brilliant performances too.

Handing a 31-year-old a two-year deal is a pretty good move but it seems both parties are off by a year.

It would have been great to keep hold of Willian for another year at least, and it will be interesting to see what happens next.

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The football season has been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, and no one knows what will happen regarding the transfer window or the season too.

Alex Telles switches agents to facilitate Chelsea move

Chelsea’s hopes of landing Brazilian full-back Alex Telles have received a timely boost.

According to Portuguese publication Record (h/t Metro), the 27-year-old has hired superagent Pini Zahavi to take care of his affairs. This bodes well for the Blues considering Zahavo’s close ties with the club.

The Israeli played a role in Roman Abramovich’s purchase of Chelsea in 2003. He has since had a hand in a number of transfers for the club and remains on excellent terms with the club’s current hierarchy.

According to the report, Telles hopes Zahavi will help him secure a move to Stamford Bridge. Porto are willing to let him leave if his £35million release clause is met.

Telles joined Porto in 2016 from Galatasaray after an impressive loan spell at Inter Milan the previous season. He has since gone on to make 183 appearances for the Portuguese side and has scored an impressive 21 goals and 52 assists.

He has scored nine goals and 10 assists in 40 appearances this season as he continues to put up impressive numbers.

Chelsea were keen on signing him last summer before the club was hit by the transfer ban. Both Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso look to be on their way out, making a replacement at left-back a priority for Lampard.

Telles is an Italian passport holder, which should help him obtain a work permit for a move to England.

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Telles’ solitary cap for Brazil came in a friendly against Panama in 2019. He has twice been selected in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and also won the Porto Player of the Year in 2018.