Chelsea and Atletico Madrid to do more business?
Chelsea are in talks with Atletico Madrid over a £30million swap deal for Spain international Koke while Blues left-back Filipe Luis looks to be heading back to Atletico as part of the deal.
Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side won the Premier League title on Sunday and has started to plan for next season as they aim to win the Champions League.
The gaffer has pin-pointed a range of areas in his side that he wants to improve and it appears that Koke, 23, is one of Mourinho’s top targets.
However, The Blues will have to pay a huge amount for the play-maker as he has a release clause of £44million in a five-year deal that only signed last year.
It is reported that Chelsea will let former Atletico left-back Filipe Luis return to Spain as part of the deal after the Brazil international has failed to impress during his first season in England.
If Luis did go the other way, this means that Chelsea would only need to pay around £30million for Koke.
The Premier League champions have been scouting Koke for two seasons now and the Blues technical director, Michael Emenalo travelled to the Spanish capital to watch Koke last week and preliminary talks are underway.
Mourinho is looking to create space in his squad for a couple of big-name signings to come in during the summer transfer window and this is likely to happen if Luis goes back to Atletico plus Real Madrid are in talks with Chelsea over Nigeria international John Obi Mikel as Real want to strengthen their squad in the holding midfielder position.
The Blues are also interested in Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi, 22, as a replacement for Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba with the 37-year-old’s contract expiring in the summer and it is unlikely to be renewed if Chelsea find a replacement.
Chelsea are also looking for a back-up goalkeeper for Thibaut Courtois as Petr Cech looks to leave the club after finding chances limited at Stamford Bridge this season with Arsenal, PSG and Liverpool showing interest in the 32-year-old veteran.
It is reported that Mourinho has been impressed with QPR goalkeeper Robert Green after a sparkling campaign at Loftus Road and could make a move for the former England international if QPR are relegated.
Another target for Chelsea in the summer transfer window is West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell, 25, but face tough competition for the highly rated English full-back with Manchester City and Liverpool showing interest in the former Ipswich Town star.
By Drew Darbyshire (@DarbySports)
