Transfer rumor roundup 7/17: Chelsea targeting Aubameyang
By Nick Pitner
Here’s a roundup of the latest news and transfer rumors surrounding which players could be joining new teams in the coming months.
Monday’s transfer news is led by Sky Sports’ report that Chelsea have turned their attention to Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Blues are destined to sell Diego Costa this summer, which will leave a sizable vacancy atop their attack.
While Romelu Lukaku was reportedly manager Antonio Conte’s top target to replace Costa, Manchester United beat Chelsea to his signature, forcing the Italian to move down his list.
According to the report, Dortmund are willing to part with Aubameyang should they receive £70 million in return, representing a cheaper price tag than that of Lukaku, albeit for a player four years older.
Last season’s leading scorer in the Bundesliga, Aubameyang has told Dortmund of his desire to leave, but any transfer is thought to need to be completed by the time the club starts preseason next Monday.
Another center-forward linked with Chelsea is Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata, but if La Gazzetta dello Sport are to be believed, the Spaniard is close to signing for AC Milan.
Fresh off making a statement by buying defender Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus, the Rossoneri have reportedly submitted a €70 million bid for Morata.
Not only that, but Milan are offered Morata €10 million per year to return to Italy, where he played two years at Juve prior to moving back to Madrid this past season.
Despite too often being struck behind Karim Benzema in Los Blancos’ pecking order, Morata still grabbed 20 goals across all competitions.
With such production, the 24-year-old is keen to become first-choice elsewhere, making a Milan switch all the more attractive.
Should Morata indeed change colors, he’d be the most expensive of Milan’s many impressive acquisitions, as they’ve already secured Bonucci, Franck Kessie, Andre Silva, Andrea Conti, Ricardo Rodriguez, Mateo Musacchio, Lucas Biglia and Hakan Calhanoglu this summer.
Although that haul has arguably made Milan the winners of the current window, their business could also include Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches.
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According to ESPN, Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed Milan’s hope to take Sanches on loan, but he also indicated the clubs are a way off in terms of a financial agreement.
Portuguese outlet Record states Milan are targeting a two-year loan for Sanches, who they’d then consider signing permanently for €47 million.
It’s unknown exactly how Bayern view that proposal, but given the 19-year-old featured for just 615 Bundesliga minutes in his first season under boss Carlo Ancelotti, that fee would right now appear very generous.
Elsewhere in Italy, Juventus are searching for a replacement for Bonucci, which has led them to engage Roma in talks over Kostas Manolas, according to La Reppublica.
In fact, the report reveals Juve general manager Beppe Marotta met with new Roma director Monchi is the eternal city last Wednesday, setting the stage for a potential transfer.
Should that transpire, however, the Old Lady would be forced to shell out €40 million, or basically the money they received for Bonucci.
To his credit, Manolas is four years younger than Bonucci and has been one of Serie A’s most consistent defenders over the past couple campaigns, evidenced by his 55-percent duel success last year, per Squawka.