Rumour Reel: Brozovic to Chelsea as Conte considers Serie A connections
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | August 27, 2016
Coral’s rumour reel
Another round of weekend tabloids and reports from abroad mean there’s juicy gossip to be had, and Marcelo Brozovic to Chelsea rumours are emanating from Italy.
The Blues are also linked to ex-Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland left back Marcos Alonso, while Coral betting partners West Bromwich Albion continue to chase homegrown faces in a bid to strengthen their squad.
Read all about these potential transfers in the latest edition of the rumour reel…
Alonso and Brozovic to Chelsea?
Antonio Conte seems to be linked with almost every Serie A player under the sun, but the latest names make more sense than most. Lacking a natural, attack-minded first-team left back at Stamford Bridge, reports from Italy claim the former Juventus coach will go in for Fiorentina’s Alonso.
His prior Premier League experience is understood to be part of the attraction for Conte. Alonso, 25, came through Real Madrid’s youth system before joining Bolton in 2010 and returned to England for a loan spell at Sunderland during the second-half of the 2013/14 campaign.
Brozovic to Chelsea rumours, meanwhile, will only intensify if current club Inter Milan complete the signing of Brazil’s teenage attacking prospect Gabriel Barbosa.
New Nerazzurri manager Frank de Boer is also after Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario, a Euro 2016 winner with Portugal, and there isn’t squad space at the San Siro to give Croatia counterpart Brozovic game time.
London rivals Arsenal are also apparently interested in the 23-year-old, leaving the Blues with a tug-of-war on their hands to land the Blazers midfielder. Having played on the right and done well during the Euros, such versatility may be behind Conte’s reported bid to bring Brozovic to Chelsea.
Baggies seek Chambers and Rodriguez loans?
In the West Midlands, meanwhile, Tony Pulis is determined to get new players into The Hawthorns before the transfer window closes on August 31st.
Albion’s top targets appear to be a new option in central defence and up front, with England-capped duo Calum Chambers and Jay Rodriguez set to be available on loan from Arsenal and Southampton respectively.
Should the Gunners complete the prospective signing of Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia, then young Chambers would fall further down the pecking order at the Emirates.
Pulis is also prepared to give Saints striker Rodriguez a chance, with his career stalling after sustaining a serious knee injury in the spring of 2014.
Both players have something to prove, so helping West Brom to keep clean sheets and score more goals would help former St Mary’s teammates Chambers and Rodriguez to do that.
Related
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