Chelsea round-up: World record bid prepared for summer; defender to decide on deal “soon”; striker wants to stay

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The Independent report that a move for Juventus central defender Leonardo Bonucci could be back on the cards after a furious row between the 29-year-old and his manager Massimiliano Allegri during and after their win over Palermo. However, Juventus’ desire not to allow him to leave will mean that it will likely take a world-record fee for a defender if the club are to take him away from Turin.

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Manchester City are also said to be interested, but the lure of Antonio Conte, who worked with Bonucci in Turin and with the Italian national team over the past few years, may prove decisive in their pursuit of the centre-back.

He could be joined in defence by Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac as his agent has told German outlet Waz, as translated by ESPN and Metro, that he will decide on his future “soon” with his contract set to expire in the summer. That means that he can hold talks with foreign clubs from Europe now as he is in the last six months of his deal, with Chelsea among the clubs to be linked.

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A potential option as a left wing back to provide competition and back-up for Marcos Alonso, the Serbian could be a good signing given his defensive stability, something that Alonso has frequently been criticised for lacking.

Another reported target is Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, but Chelsea’s hopes of signing him have been dealt a blow as his agent Mamadi Fofana told the Daily Record:

“Moussa doesn’t stress. He signed a four-year deal at Celtic and, in his head, he’ll be at Celtic for those four years. If he has to leave, that will happen at the right time, but it’s not in Moussa’s head or my head. In January, there was speculation, but there will always be speculation if he does well. It’s good. It means we are all doing well. The boy is doing well, Celtic is doing well and we as agents are doing the right things for everyone.”

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The Frenchman has been in fine form for the Hoops this season, with the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid also linked with a move for the youngster who joined the Celtic Park club for just £500,000 from Fulham last summer.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Craig Ballantyne.