Chelsea are set to make the Premier League’s biggest signing in a while with the announcement that Timo Werner is ready to join Frank Lampard’s side in a £54m summer move.
The Blues are prepared to meet RB Leipzig’s release clause and have apparently agreed to terms with the German striker, with a contract worth around £9m per year.
Busy Blues
Former Germany and Chelsea legend Michael Ballack has praised the Blues boss for snatching Werner from under the noses of Liverpool. He’s been a revelation for the Red Bulls this term, notching 25 goals including one in a recent 2-4 victory over Cologne. He’s just five behind Bayern legend Robert Lewandowski and eight ahead of the chasing pack.
Ballack knows all about the Premier League, having spent four successful seasons at Stamford Bridge between 2006 and 2010. And he reckons Werner has all the attributes needed to be a success in England: “It is much more intense, with a lot of duels,” he says. “He has to get used to it quickly because that’s the point. He is a robust player, is very fast, but he is also physically good in a duel and he will quickly get used to it.”
Now free from their past transfer embargo, Lampard has already been busy, securing the signature of Ajax star Hakim Ziyech who will join the Londoners in a £40m deal ready for the 2020/21 season.
The attacking midfielder is a handful out wide and will be good competition for Christian Pulisic, as Chelsea aim to break the dominance of the league’s top two.
Lampard also has set his sights on Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell as a possible replacement for Marcos Alonso. The 23-year-old has become England’s first-choice left-back, and the Foxes will be keen to keep hold of him.
Van de Beek in demand
Manchester United have been tracking the progress of another Ajax star, Donny van de Beek. The 23-year-old can play anywhere across the middle of the park and has a good engine, powering his attacking runs which have brought 40 goals and 34 assists from 159 appearances for the Dutch champions.
Ajax chief and former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has confirmed the Red Devils have expressed an interest but they will have to fight off interest from Real Madrid.
If they lose out on this deal, United are reported to be keen on a move for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, having cooled their interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho.
The Bundesliga giants are reputed to want over £100m for the England star, but an alternative move for Grealish would be contingent on the Villans getting relegated. Although, the latest Premier League 2020 betting odds say that is a likely outcome.
Grealish has been linked with Manchester United for some time, but the Red Devils are unlikely to meet Villa’s valuation of £80m. There could be some haggling to do there.
Wolves stars on the radar
Nuno Espirito Santo may have to hold back a flood of interest in his stars who have excelled in both the Europa League and the Premier League again this season.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is an admirer of Ruben Neves and is keen to bring the Portuguese midfielder to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, so he has challenged his notoriously hard bargaining board to splash the cash.
Neves is under contact to Wolves until 2023 but he is reported to be happy to join his compatriot, and Spurs have recently taken out a £175m Bank of England loan to ease their cash flow, much to the annoyance of rival fans.
Champions-elect Liverpool have been enquiring about flying winger Adama Traore, who is having his best season yet at Molineux. His electrifying pace would suit Liverpool’s fast attacking style perfectly and could be a replacement for Sadio Mane should the Senegalese striker move on.
Meanwhile, Mexican striker Raul Jimenez is being tracked by Manchester United, having impressed again this term with 13 goals and six assists.
These three stars are sure to be in the Premier League 2020 news over the next few weeks as Wolves make a push for the fourth Champions League spot.
Nuno will have a better chance of keeping them at Molineux if they reach that target. He could reasonably argue that, with the exception of Liverpool, the clubs pursuing his players are no better than his side.
In the meantime, the rumour mill will keep on turning and the action is about to start.
The big Premier League kick-off is just over a week away now, and we’re all set here at SBOBET to bring you all the news, results and updates.
Bring it on!
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