Chelsea plan offer for “world-class” new target in bid to hijack AC Milan

Chelsea set their sights on a new transfer target “in recent days”, amid their deal for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato and ongoing talks for Xavi Simons.

Once Hato is announced as a new Chelsea player, as is widely expected, it will take their summer spending to nearly £270 million after both the west Londoners and Ajax shook hands on a £35m-plus transfer for the Netherlands international.

This also takes into account their previously agreed moves for Kendry Paez, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo and Estevao, who all officially landed at the club this summer but were poised to join Chelsea a long time ago.

Nevertheless, their £158 million raised through player sales, their £87.5 million financial windfall from winning the Club World Cup and Champions League qualification have allowed Chelsea to balance out their serious spending, with more high-profile exits expected from now until deadline day.

More incomings are possible too, with journalist Simon Phillips recently reporting that BlueCo could go for another centre-half, striker and a new goalkeeper, depending on outgoings.

“Chelsea are still going to be in the market for a new centre back and a new goalkeeper, even after Jorrel Hato coming in, who as we reported is seen as Marc Cucurella competition anyway.

“Chelsea will not panic buy a new goalkeeper or another centre back, and that is why these are situations for this latter stage of the window. But there is a feeling amongst the majority of the decision makers that both positions could still be needed this window.

“Another new striker could also still be attacked should Nicolas Jackson be sold.”

That comes as a very encouraging update ahead of the new season, but the one position supporters didn’t expect Chelsea to invest in was another midfielder.

Chelsea plan Ardon Jashari offer in bid to hijack AC Milan

AC Milan have been trying to sign Club Brugge star Ardon Jashari for some time, and talks remain ongoing between all parties to get a deal done for the Swiss, who’s pretty keen on a move to the San Siro (Fabrizio Romano).

Enzo Maresca is very well-stocked in the midfield department, but according to Sky Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Chelsea started planning an offer to sign Jashari “in recent days” in a bid to hijack Milan.

Bayer Leverkusen also want him as a replacement for Granit Xhaka, who’s just joined Sunderland, but the player is clear – he wants Milan above everyone else.

The 23-year-old is tipped to be Switzerland’s next superstar. Jashari has just won the Jupiler Pro League’s Player of the Year award too, and has already competed against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo at the last World Cup in Qatar.

However, he’s perhaps best suited to Milan rather than Chelsea right now. Former FC Basel star and Swiss international, Marco Streller, has called Jashari “world-class” already, but even he’d be hard-pressed to break into Chelsea’s current midfield.