Chelsea’s slow start to the Premier League was compounded yesterday as the champions slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.
It also appears that the Stamford Bridge club’s efforts to sign a new centre-half have taken another blow, with a reported target joining Valencia instead of moving to Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile David De Gea’s future at Manchester United looks very shaky, with a substantial report claiming that the Spanish goalkeeper will finally get the move to Real Madrid that he is clearly craving.
Abdennour signs for Valencia as Chelsea’s search continues
Chelsea’s early season woes continued yesterday with defeat to Crystal Palace, with the champions’ rearguard continuing to look suspect with and without captain John Terry.
Jose Mourinho could not call on his suspended skipper yesterday, with the home side’s backline penetrated on a number of occasions by a fortnight Palace outfit.
With John Stones looking set to stay at a stubborn Everton, another reported centre-half target included Monaco’s Aymen Abdennour.
However, the 26-year-old enforcer has agreed a five-year with Valencia, as per the Mestalla club’s official website, and as such the Blues will need to look elsewhere.
Chelsea have now conceded nine goals in the space of four games, with only bottom side Sunderland shipping more this season.
It is clear that the West London club are in disarray, with their options at centre-half being a real point of contention before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.
De Gea looking set to make £29 million Madrid move
Meanwhile, the longest transfer saga of the summer looks set to be resolved before the window slams shut, as David De Gea’s move from Manchester United to Real Madrid may well be concluded soon.
The Independent have claimed today that the Old Trafford outfit have finally agreed to relent on the talented goalkeeper, with the former Atletico Madrid star set to return to the Spanish capital city in a €40 million (£29 million) deal.
With De Gea spending this season on the sidelines so far due to the decree of Louis van Gaal, ending the speculation over the star’s future could well be a positive thing for the Red Devils.
Sergio Romero has looked solid as the Spaniard’s replacement, but it appears that United will look to bolster their custodian options with a move for a man Van Gaal knows well.
The same report in The Independent claims that the Dutch maestro wants to complete a deal for Ajax stopper Jasper Cillessen if and when De Gea finally makes his move away from Old Trafford.
Van Gaal worked with the Dutch goalkeeper during his tenure with the Netherlands national team and had the Ajax star as his first choice during last summer’s World Cup.
With Victor Valdes looking increasingly likely to leave Manchester after a fallout with Van Gaal, the club’s goalkeeping options are set to be completely shaken up.
Finally, the report also claims that United had made trepidatious enquiries over the availability of Gareth Bale in their talks with Madrid over De Gea, which have been resoundingly rebuffed.
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