Chelsea and Arsenal handed huge transfer boost

Chelsea travel north to face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday, just days after beating the Magpies in the Premier League. 

Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer earned the Blues a 2-1 win over Eddie Howe’s side at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Enzo Maresca has enjoyed an impressive start to life in London, having been appointed as the club’s head coach over the summer.

The Italian has had to contend with a huge squad since taking charge over the summer, with Chelsea signing no fewer than 11 players during the summer window.

Now, though, it appears that the Blues are one of a number of Premier League clubs chasing a Champions League striker.

According to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea are one of a number of top Premier League sides interested in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The 26-year-old has been in sensational form for Sporting so far this term, scoring 14 times in as many games across all competitions.

Gyokeres has scored 14 goals already this season

Plettenberg suggests that Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are all also interested in the Swede, who is expected to depart his current club next summer.

The report claims that, while Gyokeres isn’t likely to move in January, there is an agreement in place between the player and Sporting that he will be able to leave for a fee of around £50-58 million.

This is despite the Sweden international, who joined Sporting from Coventry City last summer, having a release clause of approximately £83 million in his current contract.

In total Gyokeres has scored 57 goals and provided 19 assists in 64 games for the Portuguese side since his move from the Sky Blues.

His current deal with Sporting isn’t set to expire until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, but Plettenberg claims that the player has an agreement in place with his current employers that will allow him to depart at the end of the current season.