Chelsea Looking for Options In the Transfer Market

With Chelsea bringing in a new manager this summer, it’s safe to say they’ll be busy in the transfer market making new signings. 

From the start of the summer transfer window, those with Chelsea tickets have actively followed their club’s recent transfer market information as the club is making massive moves to secure key talent. 

Here’s the latest from the transfer market involving Chelsea. 

Chelsea turn down offer for Kepa Arrizabalaga 

Talks are continuing with the Saudi Pro League club and other suitors ahead of an expected permanent departure for the goalkeeper from Stamford Bridge this summer.

The 29-year-old, under contract at Chelsea until 2025, spent last season on loan at Real Madrid but made only one start for the Spanish club after January.

It was a deserved break for the Spaniard, who wasn’t finding the groove at the club after his first two seasons. But those with Chelsea tickets don’t understand the rationale of having Arrizabalaga as an option, knowing he will not be utilized. 

The former Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper was signed by Madrid on loan last summer after the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during pre-season training.

Arrizabalaga began the season as Madrid’s No 1, but Andriy Lunin was preferred in selection by head coach Carlo Ancelotti from the midway point of the 2023-24 campaign.

Courtois returned to fitness in the season’s closing weeks and started Madrid’s Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund in June.

Arrizabalaga’s former Chelsea team-mate N’Golo Kante joined Al Ittihad last summer, while former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho and ex-Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema are also in the Saudi club’s squad. They were one of four clubs the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) took over last summer.

Chelsea have goalkeepers Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic in their first-team squad, alongside Marcus Bettinelli and Lucas Bergstrom.

Chelsea Reward Cole Palmer 

Chelsea will reward Cole Palmer for his superb form and are confident the England international will be at the club for the next ten years.

If one player singlehandedly kept a fan’s hopes of getting Chelsea tickets alive, it was Palmer.

When he made his move from City, he showed he was A-team material and often rescued the club from unrealistic situations. 

Palmer enjoyed an incredible first season at Chelsea, scoring 25 goals, and maintained that form for England at the European Championship, scoring in the final and providing an assist in the semi-final.

The 22-year-old signed a seven-year contract with the option of a further 12 months worth around £80,000 per week when he joined Chelsea from Manchester City last summer.

That meant Palmer was at the lower end of the England wage scale during the summer, and his salary was not more than a quarter of Raheem Sterling’s salary at Chelsea.

Chelsea is mindful of this and will reward Palmer with incremental wage rises to better reflect his importance and performance, although the expectation is that these will remain private.

Rather than announce a new deal for Palmer, Chelsea is more likely to privately adjust the salary in his current contract to reward him. 

The fans with Chelsea tickets couldn’t be happier about the news. They see this move as a way to keep his energy levels high and motivate him. 

Chelsea is optimistic that Palmer can maintain and improve his form from last season under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

Palmer will not be among the players who fly to America on Monday for Chelsea’s pre-season tour. The attacking midfielder is not due to report back until next month.

Conor Gallagher also has time off following international duty with England, and his Chelsea future remains unresolved.

Atletico Madrid have recently held more talks over Gallagher and have shown greater interest than Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the Spaniards have yet to bid for Gallagher, and there is skepticism over whether they could even approach Chelsea’s £50 million valuation.

Sources believe the likelihood of Atletico coming up with a financial package that would tempt Chelsea and Gallagher is slim at this stage.

Tottenham remain interested in Gallagher but have yet to make a move for him this summer. Meanwhile, Aston Villa turned their attention to another of their top targets, Amadou Onana, after accepting that the Chelsea academy graduate was unlikely to join them.

Chelsea still wants to sign a striker and a right-footed winger but is willing to wait to see how the market reacts to other clubs’ moves.

The missing striker was a concern that pundits and even those with Chelsea tickets have brought to light. The fixes of Raheem Sterling and Aubameyang didn’t help the club. 

Kante Coming Back to England?

This just might not be the news that the fans would’ve wanted to hear. Cub legend Ngolo Kante is hinted to join the Hammers next season. 

Chelsea has many club legends. Some have retired, and others have moved to other clubs. But many of them will always hold a special place in the hearts of Chelsea fans after providing them with some very special memories.

Some might say that midfielder N’Golo Kante left the club too early when he moved to Saudi Arabia last summer, and that point was reiterated after Kante had such a great Euros for France, once again being a pinnacle player for them.

But at the time, there weren’t too many fans with Chelsea tickets questioning the sale of Kante due to the huge number of injuries he used to have, and many thought it was the right time to part ways.

But Kante has shown that if he stays fit, he has plenty of playing days ahead of him yet, and not just that, but playing days to a very high standard still.

Kante to West Ham

The Guardian reports that West Ham are in talks to sign N’Golo Kante from Al Ittihad. Both sides are willing to reach a deal, and West Ham needs to pay £20m.

So, Kante is willing to play for West Ham? Unsurprisingly, he still backs himself to do a good job in the Premier League, but I’m sure this move would devastate all those with Chelsea tickets.