A FootballTransfers roundup said Chelsea's transfer interest in several players and a number of contract situations are in focus. Manu Kone, Nicolo Tresoldi, Yasin Ayari, Alejandro Garnacho, Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah were all mentioned.
Kone and Tresoldi links
Tuttomercatoweb said Chelsea remain interested in AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone. FootballTransfers said Chelsea explored a late-summer transfer for Kone and possibly even made a €60 million offer, but Roma had decided not to sell at that point. FootballTransfers also said Roma will likely need to cash in on Kone next summer, with Chelsea still in the picture after they failed to bring in a replacement for Enzo Fernandez. Liverpool are also in the mix, according to FootballTransfers, which added that Liverpool have been tracking Kone since his Borussia Monchengladbach days.
On Nicolo Tresoldi, TEAMtalk said Club Brugge have no intention of selling him in January. HLN reported that Chelsea are among the clubs keeping tabs on his performances. FootballTransfers said a January transfer is out of the question for Club Brugge and that the club fully expect Tresoldi to become their new record sale in the summer. FootballTransfers also said he will cost more than the €40m Arsenal paid for Christos Tzolis this year.
Ayari and Garnacho situations
TEAMtalk said Chelsea have joined the race to sign Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari. FootballTransfers said Ayari is out of contract in the summer and Brighton have yet to exercise their one-year extension, to the surprise of the player's camp. FootballTransfers added that discussions over a new contract have so far proved fruitless, that Chelsea are among the clubs running the rule over him, and that Galatasaray could be strong competition because they have been trying to sign him since the summer.
Football Inside r wrote that Chelsea are "losing patience" with Alejandro Garnacho's situation at Aston Villa. Football Inside r also wrote that Garnacho joined Aston Villa on loan with a conditional purchase obligation in the summer and has made just 4 appearances so far. FootballTransfers said Chelsea fully expected to bank €50m for Garnacho next summer.
Acheampong contract position
The BBC understands that Josh Acheampong is still "cautious" about committing his long-term future to Chelsea. The BBC reported that Acheampong has featured prominently in recent games after being deemed "untouchable" by the club hierarchy in the summer. FootballTransfers said Chelsea have floated the idea of handing him a new seven-year contract, but there are currently no active discussions. FootballTransfers added that Acheampong wants a clearer picture of whether he can truly become a regular starter before making a final decision on his future.
Chalobah on leaving Chelsea
Speaking to The Athletic, the England international said: "I’d been there since I was eight and I wanted to be a legend there, but sometimes the way we plan things is not how things work out. As footballers, you’ve always got to be ready to adapt."
He added: "You could be here one moment, then the next moment you’re somewhere else. But I just thought that it was the best. Chelsea means everything to me. I’m still watching the games, keeping in contact with the players and staff."