Chelsea Transfer Roundup: Latest on Mount, Kovacic and more
There are very few quiet days at the office for Chelsea FC of late.
Arguably the busiest club in the window, the Blues have stepped up their 2023/24 season preparations off the field ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s pre-season.
After a severe splash last season and in January, the time for Chelsea to make bold decisions and chop the team’s volume beckons.
On that note, we look at the latest confirmed deals and other pieces of speculation around the club.
Manchester United’s second bid for Mason Mount rejected
The Mason Mount narrative has taken another turn, as Manchester United have now made an improved bid of £45m.
All efforts from Chelsea to keep their academy star seem to have broken down. Meanwhile, the Red Devils have serious interest in the player but are unwilling to go beyond a cap.
There could be movement with this deal in the coming days, as Mount donning a Man United shirt looks increasingly likelier.
Manchester City all but complete Kovacic capture
Wednesday’s headline will be marked by Manchester City’s confirmed transfer of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.
The 29-year-old will link up with Pep Guardiola’s team for £25m, a figure that could rise another £5m subject to club-related trophies and accolades.
After a year-long loan spell, Chelsea decided to make Kovacic’s transfer permanent in 2019, coughing up £40.25m for his services. In his time at the club, Kovacic amassed 142 appearances, and won the Chelsea POTY in 2019/20 along with four trophies.
His adaptability and immaculate energy levels amongst other skill sets mean Manchester City have prized one of the best midfielders in the division – straight from a top-table rival.
Arsenal and Chelsea agree fee for Kai Havertz
Arsenal have secured their first signing of the summer, and who’d have thought that it would be Chelsea’s top scorer of the season – Kai Havertz – when the final whistle blew on match day 38.
The Blues were open to selling him in an attacking revamp, and Arsenal have been ahead in the race since expressing an interest earlier this month. Havertz set his mind on moving across the capital.
The fee, worth £65m, has been agreed in principle, with medicals scheduled soon.
The 24-year-old has recorded 32 goals in 139 appearances for Chelsea, including winners in the Champions League final and the Club World Cup final.
Kante and Koulibaly set to make Saudi switch
After contract talks froze come the season’s end, the N’Golo Kante transfer saga has completed a turnaround, with the midfielder finally set to join Al Ittihad after seven wonderful years at Chelsea.
He will be unveiled to the fans and unite with international teammate Karim Benzema in July. Snapped up on a four-year contract, Kante will earn around €100million in the cash-rich league.
The same goes for Kalidou Koulibaly, who after a year at Stamford Bridge, will make the move to Al Hilal.
Chelsea are set to pocket around €25m. The Senegalese’s stocks have fallen dramatically after he was hailed as one of the finest center-halves on the continent. With Levi Colwill back in the first-team fold, the West Londoners will free up £8.2m a year worth of Koulibaly’s wages.
Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy are others on the list of players touted to play in the Saudi leagues next season as well.
-Roy Akarshak
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Ank Kumar. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.