Chelsea set to make £112m offer for Liverpool target as they attempt to ‘break down’ president

Joe Williams
Chelsea transfer target Federico Valverde
Federico Valverde celebrates scoring a goal during a pre-season friendly.

Chelsea are keen on bringing Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde to the club this summer, according to reports in Spain.

Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Angelo and Diego Moreira have all arrived at the club so far this summer but the exit door has been far busier with 14 exits.

And Rennes midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu is set to join the Premier League club imminently after Chelsea agreed a €27m fee to sign the 19-year-old.

Sky Sports are reporting that Chelsea are ‘yet to decide whether the 19-year-old will go into Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad or go out on loan’.

The Blues are struggling to get a deal for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo over the line with the Seagulls demanding £100m for the Ecuador international.

A report has claimed that Caicedo will now ‘ask’ Brighton to ‘lower’ their valuation of him with Chelsea’s third bid of £80m rejected on Thursday.

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And Spanish publication Nacional insists that Chelsea are interested in bringing Real Madrid midfielder Valverde to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Real Madrid have ‘rejected many offers’ for the Uruguay international this summer with Liverpool apparently making an €80m bid, while Saudi Arabian sides Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli both offered €100m.

And now Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has apparently ‘prepared’ a bid of €130m to sign Valverde in an effort to ‘break down the resistance’ coming from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

It is understood that the Blues are prepared to quintuple Valverde’s salary to make him ‘one of the best paid’ players in the Premier League.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson is excited about Chelsea signing Jackson from Villarreal with the 22-year-old joining the club on an eight-year deal after scoring 12 goals for the La Liga side last season.

He began his career at Senegal Premier League side Casa Sports before moving to Villarreal in September 2019.

A successful season with the Spanish side saw him make 38 appearances in all competitions for the club and he was called up to represent Senegal at the World Cup.

“Nicolas Jackson looks like a great player,” Merson told Sportskeeda. “He’s very lively and direct, and he doesn’t mess about.

“He can score a goal and make a goal as well. He’s linked up very well with Mudryk so far, and both of them have been very impressive in pre-season.

“I’ve been very surprised with Jackson so far. I know it’s only pre-season, but what I’ve seen has been ample.

“He’s a handful, and I’d definitely say that he’s going to surprise people this season.”