Chelsea weigh up Vlahovic-Lukaku swap after signing £23m Ugochukwu
Chelsea have signed the midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes for €27m (£23.2m) and are deciding whether to explore an offer to take Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus as part of a swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku.
Juventus are keen on Lukaku but are insisting Chelsea take Vlahovic, a Serbia striker, in return and pay about €40m. Chelsea rejected chances earlier in the window to sign Vlahovic and are considering whether to adjust their stance as they try to find a way to offload Lukaku after his loan at Internazionale. Lukaku has the option of a move to Saudi Arabia but wants to stay in Europe.
Chelsea’s priority target is the Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo – they are also in talks with Brighton regarding the goalkeeper Robert Sánchez – but their most recent bid, of £80m, was rejected. Ugochukwu, a France Under-19 international, also plays primarily as a defensive midfielder but is not regarded as an instant first-team regular and Mauricio Pochettino will decide whether to send him on loan. The 19year-old has made 60 appearances for Rennes.
Chelsea are poised to buy the defender Axel Disasi from Monaco for €45m and are interested in the Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise. They face competition for Olise from Manchester City, who have Jérémy Doku as another option for that position. Doku, a Belgium international, plays for Rennes.
Inter are preparing an improved bid for the West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca of about €25m and are expected to reach an agreement soon to sign the Italy international, who wants the move.
West Ham have been dealt a blow after Ajax hijacked their move for the Manchester City winger Carlos Borges. A verbal agreement had been reached with West Ham but the 19-year-old is on his way to Amsterdam for a medical. West Ham have not made a signing this summer.