Jose Mourinho is ready to launch a big-money move for Real Madrid defender Raphael VaraneEver since last season, the Blues boss has been linked with a move for the Frenchman, a man who played under Mourinho prior to his departure from the Spanish club.
While Chelsea currently boast one of the most formidable backlines in Europe, one that has only conceded 19 league goals, questions surrounding the true depth, and indeed the long-term future of their defence, remain unanswered.
Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah is wanted on loan by Bundesliga side Hamburg, but the Egyptian is holding out for a better move.
The Daily Mail understands he has also been offered to Fiorentina, who want to send back Marko Marin and are trying to offload big-earner Mario Gomez in the process, but the Italians have other priorities.
Marin is wanted on loan at Wolfsburg, who could look to make the move permanent.
Chelsea youngster Nathaniel Chalobah's proposed loan move to Bordeaux has broken down. Similar to the position of Hatem Ben Arfa, Chalobah had already played Chelsea's Under 21 side, which counts as an official match, before going on loan to Burnley.
Therefore Bordeaux would be the third, which is against Fifa regulations. The breakdown of the move has been confirmed by Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud.
Chelsea target Marco Reus has snubbed a move to the Premier League by agreeing to join Real, reports The Metro.
Reus had emerged as a key target for Chelsea this month, the Blues willing to sell Andre Schurrle to raise cash for the deal.
But Spanish newspaper El Confidential says Madrid have won the race for the player, with Reus reportedly agreeing a five-year deal on £103,000-a-week. Madrid will pay Borussia Dortmund his £20m release clause at the end of the season.
Inter Milan are interesting in taking Kurt Zouma on loan until the end of the season, according to Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport.
The defender has found first-team football hard to come by and Roberto Mancini is said to be willing to offer Zouma more regular playing time.
Chelsea and Manchester United have been put on red alert after Bastian Schweinsteiger admitted that he's no hurry to sign a new contract at Bayern Munich.
According to The Express, the 30-year-old's reluctance to commit his future to the Bundesliga champions has raised the eyebrows of Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, who are keen to add the experienced midfielder to their squads.
Source: Telegraph
