The west London side are considering a bid for Sociedad’s Griezmann.
With the £37m sale of Juan Mata to Manchester United seemingly as good as done, Chelsea are starting to try and poach several of their rivals’ transfer targets.
The latest suggestion is that the Blues have joined Arsenal in the pursuit of highly rated Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann, according to the Sun.
The newspaper claim that the Gunners submitted a £12m bid for the Frenchman earlier in the January transfer window, but it was rejected by Sociedad, who want at least double that.
Griezmann has been in great form for the Spanish club this season, netting 14 goals in 29 appearances – despite generally operating as a left winger.
It is this form that has led the Blues to accept the £24m valuation and they may attempt to bring the 22-year-old in as a replacement for the departing Mata.
However, the west London club have also been linked with hijacking Liverpool’s pursuit of FC Basel attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah (Daily Mail), as well as submitting a bid for Everton starlet Ross Barkley (Telegraph).
Having also sold Kevin de Bruyne to Wolfsburg this month for £16m there is a chance the side would be open to bringing in one of these names.
The issue hanging over Stamford Bridge is Uefa’s Financial Fair Play ruling, as well as the allocation of only 17 overseas players over the age of 21-years-old.
Selling Mata would reduce this to 16 and to placate that problem signing Barkley would seem to make the most sense – as an England international – although the 20-year-old is likely to cost the most of the trio.
The Toffees attacking midfielder has been in great form this term under the guidance of manager Roberto Martinez, playing 21 games in all competitions and scoring four goals and has also broken into the Three Lions first team.
Whatever happens, the departure of both de Bruyne and Mata will leave Jose Mourinho’s men looking a little light in attacking midfield and reinforcement will be needed.
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