Chelsea: Fabregas snubbed; record breaking Koulibaly deal; Cuadrado update

By Sam Leveridge

Chelsea bosses are preparing a record breaking £60 million bid in attempt to finally push through a move for Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, according to the Telegraph. Napoli have been reluctant to allow the Senegal centre-back to leave as one of their key players, but such a mammoth bid is expected to be accepted after several offers below £50 million were rejected by the club.

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Koulibaly is expected to go straight into the starting line-up under Antonio Conte, though as yet it is unclear whether that will be at the expense of Gary Cahill or alongside him and John Terry in a back three, as Conte has previously deployed at Juventus and with Italy. As one of Conte’s top targets all summer, this deal bodes well for relations between the Italian and Roman Abramovich, who has promised to secure the best players possible to mount a title challenge, the only frustration will be how long it has taken to do so.

There is also an update on the situation of Cesc Fabregas in the Mirror, who report that the Spaniard was offered out to a host of Europe’s biggest clubs, all of whom have turned down the offer to sign him. Amongst those clubs are believed to be his former club, Barcelona. and their arch rivals, Real Madrid, alongside PSG and Juventus.

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That means that at present, it seems that Fabregs will be left stranded at Stamford Bridge and not in Antonio Conte’s plans at present. The 29-year-old is not believed to be desperate to leave the club, as some sources have made out, and will be left with no choice but to prove himself not only to Conte, but also to the club’s fans after a poor season last year.

Fabregas may not be happy about that, given that with a new national team manager his place in the Spain squad may be at risk, but he is left with no other option and will hope to replicate the form he showed in his first few months at the club where he created more assists than any other Premier League player.

One of the clubs to have rejected Fabregas, Juventus, are in contact with Chelsea though, over discussions for a potential deal to sign Juan Cuadrado, report the Daily Star. Cuadrado spent last season on loan in Turin and impressed the club, manager and fans alike with his energetic performances. Given his flop status in his first six months at Chelsea, a deal may be possible.

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Antonio Conte had been keen to retain the Colombian winger, but with the deadline nearing the squad is overrun with attacking midfielders as attempts to sell the likes of Oscar and Victor Moses have not been successful. As a result, Conte may be forced into reluctantly allowing Cuadrado to leave in order to slim down his squad. With no European football this season, it will be harder than ever to keep all of his players happy and the wage bill under control, and outgoings are inevitable. Cuadrado may have to be one of those sacrificed.

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