London is Blue Dispatch #050

Have you muted “inverted fullbacks” and “Maresca-ball” from your timeline? Tired of seeing the players that let you down in blue last season play like world-beaters at Euro 2024? No worries, I gotchu. Here’s all the latest Chelsea related transfer gossip condensed in one place so you don’t have to go scouring the hazardous depths of off-season social media.

Michael Olise

Our transformation from the Blues to Les Bleus continues with an all-out pursuit of Crystal Palace’s French magician Michael Olise. The latest reports suggest that Palace have offered Olise a new deal with a 2025 release clause as a final, desperate act to stay for one more season, but Chelsea remain firmly in the driver’s seat. A resolution to this mini-saga is expected before the end of the month, as clubs will be looking to get their books in order before the PSR deadline.

Jhon Duran

Dortmund’s lowball offer of £25m for Ian Maatsen was gazumped comfortably by a £37.5m bid by Aston Villa, a quite astonishing figure for the young Dutchman considering the price does not include potential add-ons. The inflated price could also be a sweetener in any deal for another Blues target in Jhon Duran. Curiously, sleep-hating transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said that there exists the possibility of Chelsea picking a youngster from the academy in the deal (excluding Duran.) This one will be interesting to watch, since Chelsea agreed a deal with Burnley last season but Maatsen turned the move down. If you didn’t catch our Matt Law Transfer Special yesterday, Matt revealed that the deal is taking time as Chelsea are doing background checks before they proceed, and that other names, such as former Cobham prodigy Dominic Solanke are also under consideration.

Samuel Omorodion

The hunt for a new CF continued into Spanish waters as Chelsea made a surprise bid worth €32.5m for Atletico Madrid’s Samuel Omorodion. “Samu” was on loan at Deportivo Alaves last season and managed 9 goals in La Liga. The 6’3½ forward is also one for the future at just 20, and a release clause of €80m could deter any deal, apart from the fact that Atletico covet him and the player himself is reportedly not keen on the move. Our scouting special on Duran & Omorodion, featuring yours truly, will be live very soon.

Riccardo Calafiori

Currently linked with almost every club in Europe because he has the suave Nesta/Maldini hairdo and oozed elegance in Italy’s group stage opener, Bologna’s Calafiori is one to watch at the Euros. Juventus, who hired his boss at Bologna, Thiago Motta, are keen, and as are apparently Liverpool. But the fact that he’s Italian and can play left-back, left-centerback and slot into midfield comfortably makes him a rare and lucrative profile, especially for Maresca’s tactics. Like I’d say to a person who accidentally swallowed a roll of film – we’ll see what develops.