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Chelsea are preparing to lock horns with Manchester City in their first game of the Premier League season on Sunday, August 18, at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Maresca will be keen to start his tenure with a win over Pep Guardiola.
Meanwhile, Napoli want two Blues players in a deal for their star striker. Elsewhere, Axel Disasi is considering cutting ties with the London giants this summer.
On that note, let's look at the major Chelsea transfer stories from August 15, 2024.
Napoli want Chelsea duo for Victor Osimhen
Napoli want Romelu Lukaku and Caesar Casadei in a deal for Victor Osimhen this summer, according to The Sun. The Nigerian striker is expected to leave the Diego Armando Maradona stadium this year despite signing a new contract last December.
Chelsea are looking to rope in a new No. 9 to lead the line in the upcoming campaign. Enzo Maresca isn't completely convinced by Nicolas Jackson and Osimhen is the Blues' priority target.
However, prising him away isn't going to be a walk in the park. The 25-year-old reportedly has a €130m release clause in his contract, which the London giants have no plans of exercising. They are, instead, trying to script a player-plus-cash deal for the Nigerian.
Chelsea are willing to offer Lukaku as part of their proposal. The Belgian forward is apparently a target for Antonio Conte this summer. However, Napoli have also asked for Casadei to be included in the offer.
The Serie A side also want the Blues to pay £39m along with the two players. While the deal could represent a significant loss for the London giants, they are unlikely to bat an eyelid as long as Osimhen arrives at Stamford Bridge.
Axel Disasi wants to leave
Axel Disasi is considering his future this summer, according to The Daily Mail. The French defender joined Chelsea from Monaco last year and appeared 44 times across competitions.
However, his position in the starting XI is under threat following the acquisition of Tosin Adarabioyo. The Blues also have Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, and Levi Colwill on their roster, and Disasi is worried that he may struggle for game-time in the upcoming campaign.
The 26-year-old is under contract with the London giants until 2029 but is reportedly thinking about leaving this year. Chelsea insider Simon Phillips has recently stated that the club are ready to let Disasi go this summer.
Blues receive Jonathan David boost
Lille could cash in on Jonathan David this summer, according to Ligue 1 insider Jonathan Johnson. The Canadian striker is among the shortlisted targets for the No. 9 role at Chelsea this summer.
David was on fire last season, registering 26 goals and nine assists from 47 games across competitions. However, his contract with the Ligue 1 side expires next summer and he hasn't signed a new deal.
In his column for Caught Offside, Johnson added that the Canadian is unlikely to sign an extension even if Lille qualify for the Champions League.
“Jonathan David’s situation remains a curious one that seems to repeat itself almost every year, and he always ends up staying with Lille. There is genuine interest in David, he regularly attracts a number of suitors, but I think the difference this summer is that Lille look like they’re on course to qualify for the Champions League group stage,” wrote Johnson.
He continued:
“If they do that, it’s a big plus for Lille in general, but I think it would also help them top keep hold of David, despite the links we’ve seen at various points this summer with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham. I think Lille are wary, though, of the player wanting to move on, and they’ll want to avoid a situation whereby he enters the final twelve months of his contract."
He concluded:
“I wouldn’t rule out David staying at Lille, but at the same time I also don’t necessarily expect him to be more open to signing a new contract there if they get into the Champions League group stage, so his future is probably still something that’s going to need resolving.”
Jonathan David, 24, fits the age-profile of players recently targeted by the Blues.
