With just over a week remaining in the transfer window, clubs around Europe are busy strengthening their squad and getting rid of their fringe players.
Here at Soccerlens, we bring you some of the latest stories from the Premier League as well as other European leagues in our transfer roundup column.
Chelsea have submitted a 30 million pounds bid for the AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli.
The offer has been confirmed by Sky and their report adds that the Italian club have already rejected the bid for the 21-year-old centre-back.
Romagnoli is one of most talented young defenders in Europe right now and it is no surprise that Conte wants to sign him for Chelsea. However, Milan have only just signed him for a fee of 21 million pounds from Roma and are unwilling to let go of their prized asset.
The Blues have been scouring the market for a centre-back since the window opened but have failed to land an established defender so far. They have been linked with several players including the likes of Koulibaly and Mustafi so far.
Recently Conte explained that Chelsea are lacking in depth at the back and the London club could be in trouble if one of their defenders get injured.
“If you look now at our squad, we have only five defenders – four that started today and an academy player Ola Aina,” said Conte (after the win over Watford).
“If one defender is injured or banned, then we are in trouble, but the club and me we know this and we are talking every day to improve the squad.”
In other news, Liverpool are ready to send Mamadou Sakho on loan for the rest of this season.
The 26-year-old French centre-back has struggled with fitness and disciplinary issues since the start of pre-season and now Guardian are reporting that he could be allowed to go out on loan to regain his form and fitness.
Sakho was sent home midway through Liverpool’s pre-season tour because of disciplinary issues and the player has not made a single appearance for the Reds since then (mostly due to injury).
The likes of Roma have been linked with the former PSG star and it will be interesting to see if a concrete offer comes in for the player.
Sakho is easily Liverpool’s best defender right now and letting him go without signing someone else would be ridiculous. The Reds are already very poor at the back and losing their best defender will only weaken them.
Finally, Jose Mourinho is looking to make one final signing before the transfer window closes. The Portuguese wants to sign the Southampton defender Jose Fonte.
Fonte has been a colossal presence for the Saints and impressed with his performances in the Euros as well.
Mourinho wants to sign the experienced defender but has been told to offload some of the high-earning fringe players first.
The likes of Schweinsteiger are expected to leave the club this summer. Only then can Manchester United fund a move for the Premier League defender.
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