First domino falls as Chelsea make giant Manu Kone leap, Jamie Gittens plays key role
Deadline day is still young, but Chelsea are not waiting around. The Blues have made the first move with Behdad Eghbali in advanced talks for a new midfielder, as Enzo Fernandez waits by the phone.
Going into deadline day, it was widely reported that Fernandez would end up at Man City if Chelsea could sign a replacement. The Blues were closing in on Lamine Camara, but talks for the Monaco ace stalled.
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It saw Chelsea quickly turn their attention to Roma’s France international Manu Kone. Earlier on Tuesday morning, it was claimed that Chelsea and Kone had agreed personal terms, and all that was left was a fee.
Now, an update. It sees Chelsea take a giant leap towards signing France’s World Cup midfielder Kone, as Chelsea seem to have convinced Roma into a sale by using a current attacker as a transfer makeweight.
Gianluca Di Marzio’s update on Manu Kone and Jamie Gittens
Sky Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio reports on Tuesday morning that Chelsea and Roma have agreed a £52m fee for the former Gladbach midfielder to swap Serie A for London. A bargain fee in the current climate.
With the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes all going for ridiculous transfer fees, Kone seems like value for money. But Roma took some convincing, and Gittens is set to go on loan.
Di Marzio confirms the news that Kone and Gittens are set to swap clubs, with Kone a permanent deal and Gittens, on loan: “Kone an advanced deal for £52m. Gittens close to the Giallorossi on loan!”
Chelsea’s move to sign Kone could now allow Chelsea to finally give Fernandez the green light, and Man City to sign the World Cup winner for a massive £120m or more. Kone is the first domino to fall.
Jamie Gittens would take Chelsea’s sixth foreign loan slot
Kone would be a sensational signing, and with Chelsea always set to lose Fernandez, Kone is an excellent replacement and represents superb value for money. Right now, one of the best midfielders in Italy.
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Patrick Vieira thinks he is France’s best midfielder, and Kone even earned praise from Kylian Mbappe while at the World Cup. Chelsea wanted to keep Gittens, but to do a deal for Kone, Gittens has been sacrificed.
Gittens is set to join Roma on loan, and with Robert Sanchez off to Como, the English winger will take up the final foreign loan slot. Jesse Derry, Benoit Badiashile, Mamadou Sarr and Filip Jorgensen are the four.
Sanchez’s imminent move to Como is no.5, and Gittens no.6. Clubs are only permitted to loan six players to foreign clubs, unless they are under 21 and have trained at Chelsea for three years between 15 and 21.
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