Chelsea have had a bid turned down in their pursuit of Sampdoria’s Colombian striker Luis Muriel as they look to add strength in depth up front at Stamford Bridge, as club president Massimo Ferrero told Fantagazzetta:
“Yes, there is an offer, so they tell me. But Muriel is not for sale. For £30.5m we can talk.”
The 25-year-old has scored on six occasions in 13 games so far this campaign and Antonio Conte is said to be an admirer of the pacey striker, who can also play just behind another forward in the hole.
He would add depth and competition alongside Spanish forward Diego Costa, who has returned to his best form at the start of this season with nine goals in 11 appearances, and could be rewarded with a new contract in an attempt to deter further interest from Atletico Madrid, claim the Mirror.
The 28-year-old’s current deal worth £150,000 per week should keep him at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2019, but bosses are keen to extend that to avoid interest from Spain for a fourth consecutive transfer window with his former club having made attempts to tempt him into a return in the past three.
His long term replacement may have already been found, with young Tammy Abraham showing real quality whilst out on loan with Bristol City and as he continues his breakthrough into the England under 21s side, but Abraham has spoken about how he may need to leave the club to succeed:
In three years I want to be playing at the top level, at whichever team I’m at. I just want to be one of the best in the Premier League, scoring goals.
It seems increasingly likely that his chance will come with the Blues given how highly rated he is and his impressive form whilst out on loan in the Championship.
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