Almost Done – Chelsea Close To £10m Signing Of UCL Finalist

As plans towards Chelsea’s next season begin to unfold, interesting names and players get to be thrown in as speculations and targets. In the most recent development, it has been reported that the EPL title holders are on a mission to mass-swoop Atleti players, and the La Liga outfit being a selling club, is always ready to cash-in on Chelsea’s targets, just like they have done of recent with the transfers of Diego Costa and Filipe Luiz. They now look forward to making more money from the sales of some of their players to Chelsea – forward Antoine Griezmann, midfielder Koke and on-loan defender Toby Alderweireld.

Chelsea have of recent shown interest in the 26 year-old Belgian that currently plays for Southampton F.C. The central back couldn’t hold down a starting spot in Atletico Madrid during last season, which was his debut at the Vicente Calderon. He could only manage 12 league appearances, but he has gone ahead to get almost double that (23) at the Saints and has put up a string of impressive performances to justify the playing time allotted him. And he has in the process caught the attention of Jose Mourinho,  who has earlier expressed his desire to get a defender when the transfer window opens.

In a bid to comply with the UEFA’s fair play regulations and to also raise funds once again at the end of the season, the club will be willing to sell Toby to the blues. Diego Simeone although has options of either returning the versatile defender to Atletico Madrid if he can be guaranteed a first-team football, or sell him to Southampton at a lesser price (£6.3million) than what the West London pensioners are willing to offer. As he is unlikely to return to Spain, Atletico Madrid plan to return their two central backs on loan at Getafe, Jose Gimenez and Emiliano Velazquez.