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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Unwin

Football transfer rumours: Chelsea to swap Raheem Sterling for Sancho?

Jadon Sancho celebrates with Raheem Sterling after scoring England’s fifth goal against Kosovo at St Mary’s Stadium on 10 September 2019
Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling are old England teammates. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Chelsea’s thirst for transfers does not looked like being quenched. They are, supposedly, interested in Jadon Sancho. Enzo Maresca really likes a certain type of winger, mainly ones who aren’t Raheem Sterling. The Blues have a bloated squad, but the recruitment team have a cunning one in-one out policy now, which could result in some sort of part-exchange involving Sterling heading to Manchester United.

It is not solely wingers that intrigue Chelsea, they are looking for a striker. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen’s hefty price tag and reported £500,000-per-week wage demands are making a deal tricky, so the alternative is Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but after scoring six against Wolves on Sunday maybe the sensible thing would be to not sign a striker at all. Osimhen is also a target for the Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.

It looked as if Eddie Nketiah was heading to Nottingham Forest last week but Crystal Palace have entered the race to sign the Arsenal striker. Talks with Forest had progressed to an advanced stage but the deal collapsed, while the prospect of staying in London will be an intriguing one for Nketiah, who could cost around £30m.

This knockback for Forest has led them to put in another bid for Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez. The Dutch club rejected an opening offer last week but Nuno Espírito Santo wants some extra firepower and sees Giménez as the ideal candidate.

Manchester City are thinking long term and have identified Copenhagen’s teenage striker Orri Oskarsson as a potential understudy to Erling Haaland. It seems unlikely they will bid for the Icelandic international this week but could bid in future for the 19-year-old valued at €20m (£17m).

There is a potential departure on the cards at the Etihad Stadium with City willing to sell Matheus Nunes. The Portuguese international has slipped down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola since the return of Ilkay Gündogan and could seek pastures new. He struggled to make an impact in his first season at City after a move from Wolves but Liverpool could whisk him away.

The Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow was an emotional figure after their 1-1 draw with Sparta Rotterdam at the weekend, bidding a tearful farewell to supporters because he is heading to Southampton. The 26-year-old, who has eight caps for the Netherlands, came through the ranks in Rotterdam and has known nothing else but has decided to take a chance in the Premier League.

Brighton are close to sealing a £30m deal for the Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley, who is set to undergo a medical. O’Riley was born in London but plays his international football for Denmark. He started his career at Fulham but turned down a contract and ended up at MK Dons where he kickstarted life as a professional, finally working his way back to the Premier League with the Seagulls after shining in Scotland.

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