Chelsea fans disappointed with Romelu Lukaku’s potential departure - and there can’t be many - might have reasons to be cheerful.
Those come in the form of Benfica striker Darwin Nunez who is linked with a £100million move to Stamford Bridge, according to the Daily Mail. That’s within a couple of quid or so of what it took Chelsea to bring in Lukaku, who has hardly proved a big hit.
Just eight Premier League goals for the Belgian international since his £97.5m move from Inter less than a year ago hardly represents good value. But Chelsea fans, listen in because there’s a ringing endorsement of Nunez from an ‘enemy’ camp.
Liverpool maestro Virgil van Dijk reckons the Uruguayan international is one of the toughest opponents he’s faced. They crossed paths with Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this year, and Van Dijk told Rio Ferdinand ’s YouTube channel that there are similarities between Nunez and new Man City star Erling Haaland.
“Similar, very direct, quick, tall, strong and it’s quite difficult to play against those kind of guys,” says the Liverpool ace. Meanwhile, rumours linking Thomas Tuchel with a move for Brighton star Yves Bissouma took another twist with The Sun saying it’s left-back Marc Cucurella that’s in their sights.
Chelsea would have to stump up around £45m to nab the 23-year-old Spaniard but that shouldn’t prove any problem now the takeover has been completed.
The Sun reports that Marcos Alonso looks to be heading back to Spain, while Chelsea’s interest in Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde looks to be firm. The French international is valued at almost £70m but getting him out of the Spanish club might not be quite so easy now they have let his defensive partner Diego Carlos join Aston Villa.
