Transfer gossip: Chelsea to make Barca star Prem’s highest-paid player as Liverpool eye Blues trio

Ian Watson
Gavi celebrates a goal during Barcelona's game against Girona.

Chelsea are willing to throw all the money at Gavi if they take the Golden Boy from Barcelona for nothing, while Todd Boehly is also ready to make Victor Osimhen the Blues’ record signing…

CHELSEA MEET AGAIN WITH GAVI
‘Cheque en blanco para Gava’ is the AS headline on a story that says Chelsea will ‘go with everything’ to sign the Barcelona Golden Boy this summer.

Gavi’s situation is complicated. Barca have not been able to register the teenager as a first-team squad member because, well, they are an economic basket case of a club. The four-year contract extension the youngster signed back in September, which contains a release clause worth £879million, is no longer valid, meaning he could walk away for nothing this summer.

Chelsea recognise the opportunity to sign Gavi and it is claimed they had a meeting three weeks ago in Madrid with his representatives. A second summit is due to take place, with Todd Boehly in attendance along with the 18-year-old’s parents. Then, apparently, Boehly will offer to make Gavi one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League. Presumably on a 427-year contract.

 

BLUES CONFIDENT OF WINNING OSIMHEN RACE
Chelsea also fancy their chances of winning the race to sign Victor Osimhen.

The centre-forward is set to be one of the hottest properties in the summer window but Napoli won’t let the Nigerian leave on the cheap. Osimhen will fetch in excess of £100million – perhaps as much as £130million.

Manchester United, Bayern Munich and PSG are all keen on the 21-goal striker but United and Bayern are prioritising a move for Harry Kane. So, according to 90min, Chelsea are feeling confident of outbidding their rivals, even if they cannot offer Champions League football next season.

Read more: Ranking Todd Boehly mistakes at Chelsea from All-Stars to Tuchel via Potter and Mudryk

LIVERPOOL TO RAID CHELSEA, BRIGHTON FOR QUARTET
Boehly will have to fund all this lavishness somehow and Chelsea are expected to push a number of players through the exit door to raise some cash. The Mirror says as many as nine players could be off-loaded, including Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic.

Football Insider says Liverpool are keen to take two midfielders off their hands by signing Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher.

Liverpool also have an eye on Levi Colwill, who is currently on loan at Brighton and interested Man City too, but the same outlet linking them with Gallagher and Mount says the Reds’ main midfield target is Alexis Mac Allister.