CHELSEA TARGET BADIASHILE SET TO HAVE MEDICAL
▪ BENOIT BADIASHILE is expected to have a medical with Chelsea today after they agreed a £33.6million deal with Monaco for the defender. The 21-year old was left out of Monaco’s side to face Brest yesterday as details were finalised on a six-and-a-half-year contract. Chelsea will continue discussions with Benfica today over a deal for £106m-rated midfielder Enzo Fernandez, while Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos, 18, underwent a medical on Saturday ahead of his move to Stamford Bridge.
▪ ROMELU LUKAKU has reiterated his desire to stay at Inter Milan. The Belgian is on loan from Chelsea and said: ‘I want to continue here, we will speak to Chelsea in order to find a solution.’
▪ ARSENAL have taken up their option to extend Bukayo Saka’s contract by a further 12 months to 2024.
Saka’s previous deal, signed in 2020, was an initial threeyear agreement but, as expected, Arsenal triggered the additional year before last month’s deadline. Finalising a longer-term deal for the 21-year-old England winger remains a priority. Arsenal have activated similar clauses to extend the deals of William Saliba, also to 2024, and young midfielder Charlie Patino to 2025.
The Premier League leaders are set to make an improved offer for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.
▪ NEWCASTLE UNITED checked on Real Valladolid right back Ivan Fresneda on Friday night. The £10m-rated 18-year old played in Valladolid’s 2-0 defeat by Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Newcastle have recalled goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from Manchester United.
▪ LEEDS UNITED plan to finalise a deal worth up to £14m for 24-year-old Red Bull Salzburg defender Max Wober this week.
▪ MANCHESTER CITY are close to agreement on a £6.5m deal for Velez Sarsfield midfielder Maximo Perrone, 19. City winger Morgan Rogers is a loan target for Blackpool.
▪ BRENTFORD are rivalling Middlesbrough for Sunderland striker Ross Stewart. Bees defender Mads Bech Sorensen has been recalled from his loan spell with Nice. WOLVES have asked about Nice midfielder Mario Lemina, 29.
▪ ASTON VILLA have added Udinese’s Gerard Deulofeu, 28, to their list of targets as they consider signing a winger.
THE WINDOW SHUTS ON JANUARY 31