Chelsea transfer news: Hakim Ziyech’s movement collapses, Mason Mount… – The Independent

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Chelsea will be looking to put a disastrous Premier League campaign behind them as they continue their summer sale. Having spent almost £600m on transfers last season, Chelsea went through three different managers as they slipped to a disappointing 12th place in the league.

Thomas Tuchel, who now manages Bayern Munich, was sacked in September but his replacement, Graham Potter, was shown the door just seven months later, despite signing a five-year contract.

Frank Lampard returned to the Blues on an interim basis, but suffered a torrid spell in charge of his old club. New manager Mauricio Pochettino begins his tenure at the west London club on July 1, but the club has already been busy behind the scenes this summer.

Mateo Kovacic has joined Manchester City, while Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy completed their moves to Saudi Pro League clubs and Chelsea continue to aim for more outings and innings before the window closes.

Here are the latest Stamford Bridge news and transfer updates:

Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech looked set to become the latest Chelsea player to move to Saudi Arabia this summer after Chelsea struck a deal with Al-Nassr. Chelsea were set to recoup an £8m transfer fee with Ziyech himself set to earn £9m.

However, the deal now appears to have fallen apart after the 30-year-old failed to finish the terms of his three-year deal. According The Daily Mail, there were also complications with a knee injury at the doctor.

Ziyech also saw a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain scuttled on the January deadline after paperwork was submitted late. It is unclear if he will remain with Chelsea at the end of the window, as the winger appeared just 24 times last season and appears to exceed the requirements.

One transfer that appears to be nearing completion is that of Mason Mount to Manchester United. According the athletic, the Red Devils saw an offer worth £60m accepted after three offers of up to £55m were turned down earlier in the week.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his current contract but was unable to agree terms for an extension, so Chelsea are looking to sell the English midfielder this summer. He will sign a contract until 2028 at Old Trafford with the option of a further year once he completes his medical.

With Kovacic, Kante and Mount gone, Chelsea will be looking to bring in some central midfield replacements. According the evening standard, one such player the Blues can target is Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.

The Ecuadorian was a key player as Brighton finished sixth, but he has been the subject of much interest from the biggest club in the league. Brighton turned down a £70m offer from Arsenal in January and appear set to demand £100m for the prized asset from him. Reports suggest a £60m offer has already been turned down, but the London club believe a fee of around £80m could be agreed with Brighton.

Another central midfielder who is on Chelsea’s shortlist is young Spaniard Gabri Veiga. The Celta Vigo player has caught the interest of several Premier League clubs following an impressive season in La Liga in which the 21-year-old scored 11 goals in 36 appearances.

Veiga has a £34m release clause and an offer is expected soon according to The Guardianalthough the Blues may have to move quickly with Newcastle, another club who will be monitoring the young midfielder who has already agreed a deal to sign Sandro Tonali from Milan.

Chelsea have confirmed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek has completed a permanent move to AC Milan, where he has signed a four-year deal. The 27-year-old leaves having spent 19 years with the club since joining their academy in 2004. He made 155 appearances for the Blues, winning the Premier League, Europa League and UEFA Super Cup winners’ medals. UEFA during his time there.

Loftus-Cheek will cost Italian AC Milan an initial £14m, with more in potential add-ons. The midfielder will join former Chelsea teammate Fikayo Tomori at the San Siro. A statement from Chelsea read: “We wish Ruben the very best as he begins this next chapter in his career.”

The former Brighton left-back was one of Chelsea’s most expensive signings last year, having completed a £62m move from the south coast 12 months ago. The Spaniard endured a difficult first season at the club, as he was required to play several different positions in the Chelsea back line.

Reports in the Spanish newspaper, Marca, suggested that Chelsea were looking to shed the left-back, with Atlético Madrid offering the chance to buy the left-back. However, such claims have been refuted by Cucurella’s agent, Álvaro Domínguez, who claimed that the reports were “fake news” on social media.

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