Gossip: Chelsea rival Man United for Fabinho

Rob Conlon

ABSOLUTELY FAB
As clubs continue to scramble to sign a new defender before the end of the transfer window, Chelsea have decided to enter the race to sign AS Monaco right-back Fabinho.

According to L’Equipe, the Blues will go head to head with Manchester United to sign the Brazilian and are prepared to make a £25million bid. Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho are both understood to be keen on landing a new defender, although the United boss has suggested his transfer business may be done for the summer.

However, neither club can offer Fabinho Champions League football, which could prove a stumbling block. Although they can offer the 22-year-old bags of money.

 

YOU CANNOT BE REAL?
Chelsea continue to be forever linked with James Rodriguez and have reportedly failed in an attempt to sign the attacking midfielder on loan. Rodriguez is out of favour at the Bernabeu and is reportedly open to a move to the Premier League.

The Blues have been linked with the Colombia international on a number of occasions but Florentino Perez would rather understandably prefer to sell the Rodriguez for £60million rather than allow the 25-year-old to leave on loan.

The Daily Mirror suggest Chelsea will continue to pursue a deal for Rodriguez before the end of the transfer window but will face competition from Juventus.

 

ROJO NO GO
Marcos Rojo has been told he is “categorically not for sale” after Manchester United rejected two bid for the defender. Argentina international Rojo was understood to be one of the players that would be allowed to leave Old Trafford this summer, but Jose Mourinho insists the 26-year-old remains part of his first-team plans, according to Yahoo Sport.

Former club Sporting Lisbon and French outfit AS Monaco are reportedly interested in Rojo, who is now second-choice left-back and well down the pecking order for a centre-back spot. But with the Red Devils competing in four competitions, including the Europa League, this term Mourinho is keen to keep hold of the former Spartak Moscow man.

 

AND THE REST
Manchester United could make a £1million bid for 19-year-old Sheffield United forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin… Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is set to join Reading on loan… West Brom have agreed fees for Nacer Chadli and Ignacio Camacho… Juventus have ended their pursuit of PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi… Crystal Palace are close to signing Loic Remy on loan from Chelsea and also want to land Everton midfielder James McCarthy… Lazar Markovic could leave Liverpool on loan again with AC Milan interested in the winger… Sunderland face competition from Valencia to sign Sevilla midfielder Vicente Iborra.