With only 15 days remaining in the transfer window – 15 days and 13 hours at time of writing – excitement is reaching fever pitch in football’s high-stakes game of musical chairs.
Chelsea have sealed the deal for Cesare Casadei, reports Fabrizio Romano this morning, following our report on Monday night that it was moving ever closer. The 19-year-old will arrive in London later on Wednesday to complete a transfer worth up to €20m.
Cesare Casadei will fly to London on Wednesday night as main part of medical tests has been booked. Deal completed for €15m plus €5m add-ons, Chelsea will unveil Casadei as new signing soon. 🚨🔵 #CFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 17, 2022
...and it's not over for Chelsea top talents project yet.
The prospect of Hakim Ziyech swapping Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford has materialised again: L’Equipe reports that the Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, remains keen on a reunion with the tricksy Morocco international after coaching him at Ajax, and that United are open to a deal if the price is right.
Newcastle, meanwhile, can see value in making a raid on Chelsea’s increasingly large squad: the Telegraph reports that Conor Gallagher, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja are all players that Eddie Howe could find jobs for at St James’ Park.
Hudson-Odoi has apparently got his retaliation in first by telling the Blues he wants to leave, but Todd Boehly is reportedly only open to the winger leaving on loan.
Further news from troubled Manchester United: Atlético Madrid still harbour hopes of luring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Spain and are even willing to send Antoine Griezmann in the opposite direction as part of a potential deal. Sounds like a plan to us. Ronaldo himself took to Instagram last night to accuse the media of “telling lies”, writing that out of 100 stories written about him recently, only five were right. “I have a notebook,” he warned, in which the Rumour Mill surely features prominently.
Ruud van Nistelrooy took his PSV team to Rangers last night, where they drew 2-2. The former Red Devils goal machine met up with his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson, although there is no suggestion Fergie tapped him up for a playing return amid United’s recruitment woes.
On which note, it seems United’s hope of signing Adrien Rabiot from Juventus is finally dead, while the proposed move for Mauro Icardi of PSG has also stalled. The thinking, however, is that Brighton’s young midfield general Moisés Caicedo, being a Manchester United fan, would be up for the challenge.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have extended their overdraft one more time in an attempt to lure Villarreal’s Tottenham reject Juan Foyth up the road to the Camp Nou. Villarreal want €42m, though, and won’t countenance a players-plus-cash deal. Yeremy Pino, the Villarreal winger who has been linked with Liverpool, will not be allowed to leave for less than €50m, says finger-on-the-pulse man Fabrizio Romano.
Villarreal are eyeing up a move for Manchester United alumni Edinson Cavani, but face competition from Nice. While we’re on the subject, the Ligue 1 side are said to be keen to snap up Arsenal flop Nicolas Pépé. Last but by no means least: Everton’s Deli Alli might be off to Besiktas.
