Chelsea are preparing for their Premier League match against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday (October 2). Mauricio Pochettino’s team are coming off a 1-0 EFL Cup victory against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Meanwhile, the Blues have identified two January striker targets. In other news, the London club were in negotiations with Juventus attacker Dusan Vlahovic this summer.
To that end, below are the top Chelsea transfer stories as of October 1, 2023:
Two forwards are on Chelsea's radar for the new year
The Guardian reports that Chelsea will target Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney in January.
This summer, the Blues continue to seek offensive reinforcements to address their goal-scoring issues. This summer, Pochettino signed Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, but neither has yet made an impression. While Nkunku has not kicked a ball since suffering an injury during preseason, Jackson has labored with his form.
The Argentine manager is prepared to utilize the winter transfer window and has identified two potential targets. Osimhem is one of the world’s most devastating forwards and is indispensable to Napoli. Nonetheless, a recent social media controversy has cast doubt on his future with the Serie A powerhouses.
Toney is currently suspended from the gme for unlawful wagering, but will be available for transfer in January. The Blues will likely have to pay a premium to acquire his services, as Brentford is likely to demand a hefty fee for his services.
This summer, the Blues coveted Dusan Vlahovic
Chelsea sought to acquire Dusan Vlahovic this summer, according to Juventus sports director Cristiano Giuntoli.
This summer, the Blues were looking for a new No. 9 and were extensively associated with the Serb. The Bianconeri were eager to let the player go, but a deal never materialized.
According to Guintoli, the London giants were unable to meet Juventus’ asking price for Vlahovic.
“Chelsea made an offer for Vlahovic.” We didn’t want to sell Dusan, but under certain conditions, we would have. “Chelsea never reached that figure, and the exchange (with Lukaku, ed.) never happened,” Giuntoli said.
Vlahovic has been on fire this season, scoring four goals and setting up one more in six league games.
Reporter: Noni Madueke must show better self-control at Stamford Bridge
According to writer Ben Jacobs, Noni Madueke has to improve his behaviour on and off the field at the Blues.
The Englishman joined Stamford Bridge from PSV Eindhoven in January but has struggled to settle. Despite being available, he was not picked against Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek. Pochettino also suggested that things may not be going well behind the scenes with the 21-year-old.
According to Jacobs, Madueke must persuade Pochettino that he is ready to compete for a position in the squad.
“I believe Chelsea fans like Madueke because they see him as a young player with a lot of confidence, a big personality, and a fair amount of leadership.”
“And they’d certainly like to see him involved, and, therefore, it was quite surprising, especially in a League Cup game, that he wasn’t even part of the squad when Pochettino admitted that he was fit,” Jacobs added.
He went on to say:
“So, I think, that behind the scenes Pochettino wants Madueke to maybe be a little bit more disciplined both on and off the field and wants to leave a little bit more time for him to integrate himself into the squad and the culture to make sure that, he’s ultimately focused on one thing, which is challenging for a place in the Chelsea starting-11.”
Madueke might make his debut against Fulham on Monday.