Coral’s Rumour Reel: Chelsea to make third John Stones bid

The Rumour Reel here at Coral this morning has gone into overdrive, with the new Premier League season just days away and clubs clamouring to perfect their teams for the start of play.

West London is where the biggest noise seems to be issuing from at the moment, with Chelsea who have barely spent in this window linked with no less than three players.

In the hunt for a left back, they are reportedly close to agreeing a deal to sign Augsburg’s highly talented Baba Rahman, with the fee expected to be in the region of £15m, which is likely to mean they put an end to their interest in Tottenham’s Danny Rose.

Also on the radar is understood to be 19-year-old Cagliari midfielder Godfred Donsah, with Serie A champions Juventus also said to be competing for the Ghanaian’s signature.

Last but by no means least, they are expected to return with a third bid for Everton defender John Stones, likely to be around £30m, which could bring to an end one of the longest running transfer sagas of the summer.

Elsewhere, Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, is expected to ask his club to lower his £12m asking price, with both West Ham United and Tottenham interested. This is certainly an intriguing turnaround after manager Louis van Gaal had earlier expressed his desire to keep the Mexican.

On the same side of the Pennines, but across the M62, Liverpool are said to have been cleared to sign Lyon’s highly-rated attacker Alexandre Lacazette, though are themselves considering a number of offers for youngster Ryan Kent.

Meanwhile, Manchester United, 11/2 with Coral to win the Premier League next term, are on the verge of signing Spain winger Pedro in a £20m deal from Barcelona, with Van Gaal’s offer of a role in a front three with Memphis Depay and Wayne Rooney understood to have been the main factor in the player’s decision-making process.