Chelsea tipped to offer ‘three players plus cash’ for World Cup winner in sensational swap deal
Chelsea are reportedly planning a bold move to secure the services of a World Cup-winning player by offering three of their own players plus a significant sum of money in a potential swap deal, according to recent reports.
The Blues, currently managed by Enzo Maresca, have enjoyed an impressive start to the 2024/25 Premier League season. On Christmas Day, they were sitting in second place in the league standings, reflecting their strong performance in the first half of the campaign.
Key players Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson have been in excellent form, collectively scoring 21 goals so far. The recent 0-0 draw against Everton marked the first time this season that Maresca’s side failed to score in a league match, highlighting their typically potent attacking play.
Maresca had a particularly active summer transfer window, during which Chelsea prioritized offloading players who no longer fit into his plans. Despite this focus on departures, the club also made several high-profile acquisitions. These included Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid, Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United with an obligation to buy, and Pedro Neto from Wolves.
Fresh reports suggest that Chelsea are eyeing a significant January transfer move to bolster their squad further. According to sources in Argentina, relayed by Calciomercato, Chelsea are closely monitoring Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez. The club is reportedly considering a substantial offer for the Argentine forward, which could include a cash payment as well as the transfer of three Chelsea players to Inter.
Martinez, a key figure in Inter’s attack, has consistently delivered over 20 goals in each of the past three Serie A seasons. However, his current campaign has been less prolific, with only five Serie A goals to his name so far. In addition, he has not scored in the last month and was even left out of the starting lineup for Inter’s 0-0 draw against Manchester City in September.
A move to Chelsea could provide the 2022 World Cup winner with the fresh start he might need. Maresca has previously expressed a desire to add another striker to the squad to create more competition for Nicolas Jackson.
The proposed deal reportedly involves Chelsea offering midfield prospect Carney Chukwuemeka, center-back Benoit Badiashile, and winger Mykhailo Mudryk as part of the package. Mudryk, however, is currently facing a suspension from the FA due to an adverse doping test result. The Ukrainian winger has strongly denied any wrongdoing, stating on Instagram that he never knowingly used banned substances, and his team is investigating the cause of the adverse finding.
This potential deal could represent a major shake-up for Chelsea, signaling their intent to strengthen their squad further as they continue their push for silverware this season.
