Rumour Reel: Mandzukic the man for Chelsea, Foxes to tame Dragovic?
Published:
Holly Thackeray | August 21, 2016
We’re now deep into matchweek two of the 2016/17 Premier League season, and it has become clear that several big teams still need to fix flaws in the transfer market.
Chelsea are one such club, and the Blues are being linked with a triple swoop this morning, including a move for Croatia marksman Mario Mandzukic. So, read on with Coral’s rumour reel to find out what else is in the pipeline…
Chelsea in Mandzukic move?
And so we begin with the Blues, and Chelsea’s apparent interest in Juventus frontman Mandzukic. The 30-year-old former Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid striker only arrived in Turin last summer, scoring a none too shabby 10 strikes in 27 Serie A outings.
Juve have big ambitions, though, and have splashed the Paul Pogba cash on lethal hitman Gonzalo Higuain, leaving Mandzukic’s future as a starter in doubt – which is where Antonio Conte comes in.
The new Stamford Bridge boss could fork out as much as £25m to capture the experienced Croatian, after reportedly missing out on Everton’s Romelu Lukaku.
Both new striker signing Michy Batshuayi and first poacher pick Diego Costa scored on Saturday in a tight win against Watford, but it seems Conte is still frantically searching for another forward.
While, the papers also tip Chelsea to raid coach Conte’s former club Juve again for stalwart centre back Giorgio Chiellini, with interest in Leonardo Bonucci finally off the table – but this move appears just as unlikely as an apparent £60m bid for Real Madrid outcast James Rodriguez.
Arsenal in for Astori
Sticking with potential transfers from the Italian Peninsula, Arsenal are also eyeing an addition from Serie A according to the Italian press, who claim Arsene Wenger is plotting the signing of centre back Davide Astori.
It seems Italian centre halves are on trend and, at 29, Fiorentina’s Astori has spades of experience, which would make him and ideal acquisition to cover for injuries but not block the path of promising young defender Rob Holding.
While, Wenger is also believed to be keeping tabs on Algeria attacker Yacine Brahimi of Porto. The Paris-born wingman, 26, is thought to be an alternative to Riyad Mahrez, who recently inked a new deal with Leicester City.
A livewire, Brahimi has bagged a consistent seven goals in his two seasons with the Dragons and looks prime to step up on a bigger stage.
Leicester look at Dragovic
And, finally, speaking of Premier League champions Leicester, Claudio Ranieri could be about to boost his defensive ranks, which have not looked as sturdy as last term with Dynamo Kiev’s Aleksandar Dragovic.
The highly-rated Austria rearguard marshal, 25, again looks to be a back-up option after the Foxes so far failed to sign reported number one target Michael Keane from promoted Burnley, despite offering as much as £15m for the former Manchester United man.
