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The allrounder ends a seven-year association with the club, during which he became their highest run-getter with 1479 runs in 57 matches, including two memorable hundreds

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2018Luke Wright has bid farewell to the Melbourne Stars after seven years with the BBL club. Wright was ruled out of the Stars’ upcoming match against the Sydney Thunder on Saturday after being diagnosed with delayed concussion, and after discussions with the management has decided to end his time at the club. Wright was twice struck on the helmet by short balls from Ben Dwarshius during the Stars’ eight-wicket defeat to the Sydney Sixers on Tuesday – his 13-ball 11 in that game has turned out to be his final innings for the Stars.Wright’s exit coincides with a period of rebuilding for the Stars, who are also set to be without Kevin Pietersen, who has announced that he will retire from all forms of cricket by the end of this year. Stars have endured a torrid 2017-18 season, and are currently bottom of the BBL table with only one win in seven matches.The 32-year-old Wright ends his Stars career as the team’s most capped player – he featured in 57 matches – and highest scorer, with 1479 runs at an average of 29.00 and a strike rate of 131.23, and two memorable hundreds – 117 against the Hobart Hurricanes in January 2012, when he put on a BBL record 172 for the first wicket with Rob Quiney; and an unbeaten 109 in the derby against the Melbourne Renegades in January 2016.”It’s been seven years with the Melbourne Stars, and it’s been a time that I’ve absolutely loved and will cherish,” Wright said. “I’m enormously proud to have been a foundation member and I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to play for such a long time and amongst so many great players and teammates.”I’ve forged so many good friendships on and off the field and it’s been incredible to be part of such a tremendous club. I’ve loved running out onto the MCG in front of a terrific bunch of fans who’ve been so supportive.”Obviously, it’s not the farewell I’d imagined, but that’s cricket. I leave with nothing but great memories of my time here and I wish the boys, and the club generally, all the best in the years to come. This chapter of my career is closed but I look forward to the next phase, and catching up with many of these guys down the track.”

The Delhi openers added a massive 232, thereby bringing their deficit down to only 15 runs with seven wickets in hand against Bengal

The Report by Arun Venugopal in Pune18-Dec-2017Gautam Gambhir plays through the off side•AFPDelhi not only learnt from their opponents’ mistakes on the first day, but also thrived on them as Gautam Gambhir (127) and Kunal Chandela (113) doubled-teamed Bengal to all but secure the first-innings lead. After mopping up Bengal’s last three wickets for the addition of only 17 runs on the second day, Delhi ended the day on 271 for 3, with Gambhir caught behind off Mohammed Shami on what turned out to be the last ball of the day. Delhi trail Bengal by only 15 runs with middle-order batsmen Rishabh Pant and Himmat Singh still to come.Chandela credits college cricket for his rise

Kunal Chandela began his first-class career in fine fashion with three fifties in as many innings. The 23-year-old right-hander scored 64 against Hyderabad on debut and followed it up with 81 and 57 against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-finals. While he had done enough to justify his selection ahead of Unmukt Chand, Chandela realised the importance of making a big score for himself and his team.
“I wasn’t converting my fifties [into big knocks],” Chandela said. “I had a chat with the coaches, who asked me to give myself some time. The more time I gave myself it was better for me and the team.”
He said batting alongside Gautam Gambhir during the course of their 232-run partnership helped him focus better. “Gauti was very supportive and helped me wherever I was making a mistake,” he said. “He asked me to back myself and hit the balls that are meant to be hit. At one point, I played the sweep when he said I was playing very well straight so I didn’t need to do it.”
In 2016, Chandela, who was Delhi captain Rishabh Pant’s senior at school, grabbed attention in the Delhi cricketing circle with a triple century to help North Zone beat West Zone in the All-India Inter-Zone Tournament. “College cricket helped me a lot. Players of a different generation knew it was [like] first-class cricket,” he said. “It was good for me to play days’ cricket. I got to experience four-day cricket there.”

The 232-run opening stand between Gambhir and Chandela also solved a problem that coach KP Bhaskar had described ahead of the quarter-finals as the team’s only weakness. Before Monday’s double-hundred stand, Delhi openers had posted only one 50-plus partnership all season. Despite some testing bowling from Shami and Ashok Dinda with the new ball, Gambhir and Chandela were scoring at a good clip – there were six fours hit in the first seven overs. Gambhir fancied his pulls, slices and dabs during the course of his 42nd first-class hundred even as Chandela, whose game appears to be built on balance and economy of initial movement, drove effortlessly on the way to a maiden century in his third first-class match.Shami was inconsistent on a day he had to shoulder a huge chunk of Bengal’s bowling workload. During the course of the 23.2 overs he bowled, Shami produced spurts of inspiration, like in the last half-hour when he attempted to bounce out Gambhir and Nitish Rana with a leg gully, deep square leg and a fine leg. Shami’s efforts finally earned him a wicket after he went around the stumps for one delivery and aimed for Gambhir’s body with a short-pitched ball. Gambhir couldn’t evade the ball as it brushed his glove, caught by the wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami down the leg side. Furious with himself, Gambhir slammed his bat against the sightscreen on his way back, but he had reasons to smile for the better part of the day.Along with Chandela, he sought to derive maximum value out of any loose deliveries that came their way. Delhi scored 178 of their 271 runs in boundaries, and the Chandela-Gambhir combine contributed 162 of those. More often than not, their boundaries arrived in clusters, and the resultant spikes in scoring messed with Bengal’s rhythm. On one occasion, Chandela smashed B Amit – Bengal’s most disciplined bowler of the day – for four fours in an over: a punch through the off side, a streaky prod and a brace of flowing drives. Delhi whipped up 131 runs in 30 overs in the second session. The strike-rates of both batsmen were similar too, at around 58. While Gambhir brought up his century off 123 balls, Chandela took 149 deliveries.There was also some good fortune for Gambhir. He was the beneficiary of two reprieves, on 44 and 101. On the first occasion, Dinda provoked an edge in the 19th over but Sudip Chatterjee dropped the offering at slip. Then, in the 40th over, Gambhir edged one behind off Aamir Gani’s offspin, but umpire Abhijit Deshmukh turned down Bengal’s loud pleas. Chandela, who has three fifties from as many first-class innings, brought up his hundred with a majestic swivel to pull the ball to the fence.After an underwhelming pair of sessions, Bengal showed marginal improvement after tea. They had gone wicketless for 61 overs, but sent back Chandela thanks to an excellent effort from Goswami, who flung to his right to complete a one-handed catch off Amit. Goswami completed his second catch soon after when Dhruv Shorey shaped to pull a short delivery from Dinda.Earlier in the morning, Bengal’s lower order folded up without much fight in 7.2 overs. Navdeep Saini began the destruction by trapping Goswami in front of the stumps after beating him for pace. Gani was run out thanks to a direct hit from Manan Sharma at midwicket, who also caught Dinda’s attempted hoick that ballooned up.

Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke has been a long-time transfer target for West Ham this summer and a significant update has now emerged.

How old is Dominic Solanke?

The former Liverpool striker is still only 25 years of age and has matured into an important player for Bournemouth, helping them get back into the Premier League after scoring 29 goals in the Championship in 2021/22.

Last season, Solanke did a solid job back in the top flight, netting six times and registering seven assists, and he has also bagged one of each in his first two league outings of the current campaign, with his goal coming against West Ham.

The Englishman has been continually linked with a summer move to the Hammers, as they eye up attacking additions, having replaced Declan Rice with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse in midfield, and there should still be money left over for further reinforcements higher up the pitch.

Now, a new claim has emerged that suggests the east Londoners are pushing hard to secure the signing of one of their primary summer transfer targets.

Will West Ham sign Dominic Solanke?

According to Football Insider, West Ham have now submitted an offer for Solanke, as they look to seal a significant piece of transfer business:

"West Ham have submitted a formal bid for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, sources have told Football Insider. The offer is believed to be around the £35-40m mark with the London club waiting on a response from their Premier League counterparts.

"Bournemouth also have concrete interest in Solanke from another top-flight English club in the market for a centre-forward. It leaves the future of the England international, 25, up in the air in the final ten days of the summer transfer window."

This is an exciting update from a West Ham perspective, with Solanke now a proven Premier League striker who has the attributes to be a real handful leading the line. In many ways, he is like a younger version of Michail Antonio, possessing his physical power and pace, as well as an eye for goal that has become more ruthless as he has matured as a footballer.

At 25, there is still so much time for the ex-Liverpool man to further improve as a player, perfecting his all-round game, and he could be the ideal competition or replacement for Antonio, allowing David Moyes to rotate his squad more effectively across three different competitions.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Former managers clearly think highly of Solanke as a player, with Gary O'Neil lauding his importance to the cause for Bournemouth last season, saying:

"Dom works his socks off for me and you can see he comes off and we’ve not created loads of chances for him and he’s put in a load of work. People that maybe don’t know, could underestimate how big Dom is for this group. Absolutely massive. I couldn’t ask for a better number nine to go and face the challenges that we’re faced with."

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp described him as "fantastic" during their time together at Liverpool, so West Ham could have a gem on their hands if they can get a deal over the line.

While KL Rahul will miss Karnataka’s quarter-final due to a niggle, the fast bowlers selected for the South Africa tour have all been rested

Arun Venugopal06-Dec-2017KL Rahul and Umesh Yadav will not turn out for Karnataka and Vidarbha respectively in the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy beginning on Thursday. While Rahul misses out with a niggle, none of the fast bowlers selected for the South Africa tour next month will be released for the Ranji Trophy knockouts. That means Ishant Sharma, Umesh and Mohammed Shami, whose teams have made the last eight, will not be available for Delhi, Vidarbha and Bengal respectively in the quarter-finals and the semis, if their teams advance. Jasprit Bumrah, the other seamer in India’s 17-member squad, will also miss Gujarat’s knockout games as he is in the squads for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.A BCCI official said it was unwise to risk the fast bowlers ahead of a major overseas tour. “We all know these guys have played so much cricket. Everyone is looking jaded and since the [Ranji Trophy] teams have already done well without them, it makes more sense for these guys to be rested,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “The fast bowlers are going to be the most important guys for the South Africa series and you can’t take a risk at this stage.”The official, however, indicated the India think-tank was inclined towards the batsmen getting some red-ball cricket under their belt. Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane, who has been going through a bad patch, could use a hit but their participation looks unlikely. Rahane aggregated 17 runs in five innings during the Sri Lanka series, and scored a 49 and 45, bookended by two ducks, for Mumbai in the group stage of the Ranji Trophy.”KL has a niggle and Rahane is part of the ODI series, so where is the chance for them to play? Had Rahul been well, it would have been nice for him to play” the official said. “At the moment, all these guys have to go to the NCA (National Cricket Academy) [for conditioning and rehab].Rahul has played two games for Karnataka this season and has managed scores of 4, 23, 9 and 92. He has since played the first two Tests against Sri Lanka where he has produced 86 runs from three innings. Umesh, on the other hand, has picked up nine wickets from the two games he turned out for Vidarbha. He played the Kolkata and Nagpur Tests and claimed a total of five wickets. Karnataka will take on Mumbai in Nagpur, while Vidarbha will take on Kerala in Surat in the quarter-finals.

Leeds United have been linked with a move for Joseph Paintsil before the end of the transfer window, and it looks as though a move could still come to fruition.

Are Leeds keen on signing Joseph Paintsil?

The Whites have done some good summer business in recent months, as they look to make a quickfire return to the Premier League after last season's disappointment.

Joe Piroe is arguably the most exciting signing to date, arriving from Swansea City earlier this week, while the likes of Karl Darlow and Ethan Ampadu have also arrived to boost the defensive options at Daniel Farke's disposal, in goal and midfield respectively, although the latter can also play at centre-back.

Another player who has been linked with a move to Leeds this summer is Paintsil, who has been an impressive performer for Genk in recent times, proving to be one of their most effective attacking players. The 25-year-old has scored 32 goals and registered 25 assists in 143 appearances for the Belgian side, also winning nine caps at international level for Ghana.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding the Whites' pursuit of the £9,100-a-week-earning attacker this summer, with time beginning to run out before deadline day arrives next Friday.

What's the latest on Joseph Paintsil to Leeds?

According to Football Insider, Leeds signing Paintsil could still be on the cards, with a fresh claim suggesting new talks are planned after an opening offer was turned down and that the attacker is keen on moving to Yorkshire.

"Leeds United will hold new talks with Genk over a deal to sign forward Joseph Paintsil, sources have told Football Insider. The Championship side have had a bid rejected for the wide attacker, 25, after being convinced they would meet the Belgian club’s asking price.

"It is thought that Paintsil is keen to complete a move to Elland Road. He can play as either a left-sided winger or an attacking midfielder and scored 18 goals in 39 matches for Genk in all competitions last season. Paintsil’s current contract runs until 2026 after he signed an extension last summer."

Leeds are crying out for more options in attacking midfield and wide areas this summer, in order to strengthen their Championship promotion push, and Paintstil could be absolutely perfect, in that respect.

The Ghanaian has already registered two assists in the Jupiler Pro League this season, outlining the end product he possesses, and he has played as a forward and in a wide role in 2023/24 to date, showing that he could even lead the line with Piroe, in a strong-looking strike force.

This versatility is an invaluable asset to have, giving Farke more depth across a number of positions, so there are very few negatives when it comes to Leeds possibly signing Paintsil between now and the end of the current transfer window.

He has been hailed as "superb" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in the recent past, and considering he still only 25 years of age, there is no reason why he couldn't come in as a key player at Elland Road for the foreseeable future, hopefully playing Premier League football with them next season and beyond.

Glenn Maxwell, called in as cover for Warner, will now be on standby for both batsmen

Brydon Coverdale at the Gabba22-Nov-20170:53

Warner will bat like Chanderpaul if he has to – Smith

Shaun Marsh has joined David Warner on the injury-watch list after pulling up from training with a stiff back on the eve of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. Warner had hurt his neck during a fielding drill on Tuesday. Glenn Maxwell was called in as cover on Wednesday; by the end of the afternoon, he found himself on standby for Marsh as well as Warner.The uncertainty complicates what would otherwise be a straightforward selection for Australia on Thursday morning. Should Warner be ruled out, the most logical move would be to shift Marsh up the order to open with Cameron Bancroft, and have Maxwell come in at No. 6. But Marsh himself being under a cloud muddies those waters somewhat.Earlier in the day, Australia captain Steven Smith had said he was confident Warner would be passed fit. Although Warner had faced only two throwdowns in the nets on Tuesday, he enjoyed a much longer batting session on match eve as he aimed to prove his fitness.”Davey’s going well,” Smith said after Australia’s training session on Wednesday. “He had a hit just before. He’s very confident and he says he’ll be right to go. It’s part and parcel of playing cricket. Guys have injuries now and then. You have little niggles and he’s confident that he’ll be okay. He said he’ll even bat like Shivnarine Chanderpaul if he has to bat that way. So I think he’ll be all right.”Soon after Smith’s press conference, Australia confirmed that Maxwell would be brought in as cover. Maxwell has played Australia’s four most recent Test matches, in India and Bangladesh, and scored his maiden Test hundred in Ranchi in March.However, he is yet to play a Test match on home soil, and was overlooked in the original squad as the selectors instead opted for Marsh as the No. 6 batsman.Smith also confirmed that, as expected, fast bowlers Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers would sit out of the side from the 13-man squad.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has been backed during the summer transfer window so far as the club have brought in four new signings to bolster his squad.

Who have Aston Villa signed this summer?

The first arrival of the off-season was central midfielder Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City, who were relegated from the Premier League earlier this year.

The Villans then brought in Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres from Bayer Leverkusen and Villarreal respectively on permanent deals.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Their fourth addition of the window came this week as the club confirmed the signing of Italian attacking midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo on loan from Galatasaray.

That may not be the end of their business, however, and one player who could be an excellent signing for Emery is reported transfer target Giovani Lo Celso.

How good is Giovani Lo Celso?

The 27-year-old dynamo is an excellent number eight who could come in as the next John McGinn for Emery if the Spanish tactician is able to secure a deal for his services.

They worked together at Villarreal during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns whilst the Argentina international was on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and his performances last term suggest that he has the potential to be a superb player for Villa.

Lo Celso, like McGinn, is a left-footed midfielder who is able to make an impact in and out of possession. Last season, he averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.10 across 22 LaLiga outings and showcased his ability offensively and defensively.

The then-Villarreal gem scored two goals and created six 'big chances' for his teammates, whilst he also averaged 1.4 key passes per game – which was 0.2 more than any Villa player managed in the Premier League.

McGinn, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99 over 34 top-flight outings for the Villans and contributed with one goal and six 'big chances' created, although he only produced 0.6 key passes per match.

No Villa player averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 7.10 and these statistics suggest that Lo Celso has the potential to be an outstanding option in the middle of the park for Emery in terms of what he offers on the ball.

Out of possession, the 5 foot 10 talent won 57% of his individual duels and was only dribbled past 0.4 times per game for Villarreal last season. Whereas, McGinn came out on top in 57% of his battles and was dribbled past 1.1 times per outing, as per Sofascore.

This indicates that Lo Celso, who was once described as an "amazing" player by former boss Jose Mourinho, could offer a similar level of strength to the Scotland international whilst not allowing opposition players to bypass him as frequently.

Overall, their respective statistics suggest that they would both be superb options for Emery to call upon in midfield and they could provide each other with exceptional competition for a place in the side.

This could create an environment that encourages both of them to push harder and harder in training and matches in order to win the fight for a starting spot, whilst the depth that it would provide could be vital as Villa look to compete across multiple competitions if they qualify for the group stages of the Europa Conference League.

The 23-year old has made strong strides towards becoming a rounded bowler and has lately proven to be proficient at picking wickets with length deliveries

Arun Venugopal in Ranchi06-Oct-2017A standout feature of Jasprit Bumrah’s young career thus far has been his willingness and ability to learn and evolve. While “learning” rolls off many cricketers’ tongues as a stock cliché, Bumrah means it. Last year, when he said he had learnt something new in each of his first three seasons in the IPL, it wasn’t tall talk. In 2013, Bumrah was schooled in the art of pre-game preparation and managing different situations. When he became one of Mumbai Indians’ lead bowlers next year, he absorbed the lessons of carrying good form and sustaining it over a length of time. Even his injury was an opportunity to learn: ahead of the 2015 edition, he sought out senior bowlers to understand how to prepare for a comeback.At 23, Bumrah has already made strong strides towards becoming a more rounded bowler. From someone who relied heavily on an amalgam of a whippety, awkward action, inch-perfect yorkers and slower deliveries, he has now proven to be adept at taking wickets with length deliveries. During India’s 5-0 ODI thumping of Sri Lanka recently, Bumrah emerged as the leading wicket-taker on either side with 15 scalps at an economy-rate of less than four and was named Man of the Series. Nine of those wickets came via deliveries that were pitched either on good length or on the shorter side of it. The yorkers made an appearance only on eight occasions, thus retaining their shock value. He also straddled the twin roles of opening the bowling and operating at the death.Bumrah’s rapid growth wasn’t lost on his captain Virat Kohli, who called him India’s “most effective short-format bowler” in the last year and a half. “He has really worked on his bowling a lot – especially his length ball, which has picked up more pace,” Kohli said at the end of the series. “It’s not only about yorkers and slower balls anymore. He can bowl a good length ball and nick you off as well, which I think is the biggest improvement in his bowling. Credit to him for shaping his game in that way.”By his own admission, Bumrah has had many mentors right from Sachin Tendulkar to Ricky Ponting and Lasith Malinga to Shane Bond. He feels much of his improvement is down to relentlessly picking another bowler’s brain – be it a peer or a senior. “We just want to improve all the time,” Bumrah said on the eve of the first T20I against Australia in Ranchi. “We keep asking questions to each other and we keep learning from the senior players – what else we can do, how to improve ourselves, how to adapt to different conditions and different wickets. So, our main focus is that. We don’t focus on the results. We just want to focus on the training and we want to get better and better after each and every game.”With Ashish Nehra’s return, Bumrah will also have another familiar mentor to lean on for advice. Earlier this year, Bumrah and Nehra combined to throttle England by five runs in Nagpur. Despite an age difference of 15 years, Bumrah enjoys a great comfort level with his senior partner. “He is a very experienced player and I have played some cricket with him during the T20 World Cup,” Bumrah said. “It’s always great fun playing alongside him. He has got plenty of experience to share and is very helpful. As a youngster, I keep asking him questions and seek his advice. The team atmosphere also becomes very good with his presence, so it’s very nice to see him back.”With rain thwarting India’s training session on Friday, some of the players, including MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, tried their hand at foot-volley in the dressing room balcony. Bumrah appeared to stand in a corner and watch them in action. Don’t be surprised if he learns a few tricks there and masters those, too.

Leeds United have now been handed a boost in their pursuit of Coventry City midfielder Gustavo Hamer, with Burnley recently dropping out of the race for his signature, according to a report from LeedsLive.

Is Gustavo Hamer staying at Coventry?

Coventry have a real fight on their hands as they try to keep hold of Hamer this summer, with a number of clubs already making bids for the midfielder, who is set to be out of contract next summer.

When asked whether any offers have been made for the 26-year-old, Sky Blues boss Mark Robins admitted he has fielded some proposals, saying:

“The honest answer is yes, we have had offers but they haven’t been acceptable. That could change, who knows. He’s a top player, there’s no doubt about it, and other clubs covet them and put things in his head and that’s something that you can’t remove from his head.

I think really what I would like to see is us finish our recruitment and then see what’s what, but ultimately it’s his decision."

It is unclear which teams have come forward for the Dutchman, but Fulham previously been named as potential suitors, while Football Insider report that Premier League side Burnley have already had a player-plus-cash bid rejected this summer.

The same report claims that Coventry are set to demand at least £12m for the Brazil-born midfielder, as they are desperate to keep hold of him.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE

While Burnley were interested earlier in the transfer window, Leeds Live report the Clarets have now dropped out of the race for the Coventry star, as they are closing in on two other signings which would rule them out of contention.

As such, Leeds have been handed a boost in their pursuit of the former Feyenoord man, who they are understood to be admirers of, however they are yet to test the waters with an official offer.

How good is Gustavo Hamer?

With the Whites aiming to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, they need to strengthen their squad with some top players at Championship level, which could make the £6.5k-per-week maestro a perfect addition to the squad.

Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca has recently lauded the defensive midfielder as "one of the best in the Championship", while former teammate Marko Marosi has described him as "unbelievable."

It is clear to see why the Championship star has received such rave reviews, as he ranks in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and in the 95th percentile for non-penalty goals.

Not only is the playmaker a real threat on the front foot, but he is also very much capable defensively, averaging a total of 2.6 tackles per game in the Championship last season, which could make him a solid replacement for Tyler Adams, who registered 89 tackles in the top flight last term.

It is exciting news that Leeds are still in the race for Hamer, and they should look to launch a move once Adams is sold, with Chelsea now closing in on the American's signature.

Chelsea are thought to be back in talks over a move to sign Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Chelsea transfer news?

The Blues have once again been busy in the transfer market after spending over €600m on new players during the 2022/23 campaign.

Mauricio Pochettino is the new man in charge at Stamford Bridge, and the Argentine has brought in Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Angelo from RB Leipzig, Villarreal and Santos respectively.

Nkunku’s arrival was already in the pipeline before Pochettino was named as manager, however further additions look to be on the cards before the September 1 deadline in what looks likely to be a busy month both on and off the pitch.

Read The Latest Chelsea Transfer News HERE…

Chelsea are believed to have agreed a deal to sign Rennes midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, although it is yet to be decided whether the 19-year-old will go into Pochettino's squad or go out on loan.

Meanwhile, a £38m deal has been agreed with Monaco to sign France defender Axel Disasi, and Romano has revealed that the Blues have also made a formal bid to sign goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton.

Alongside the pair, another new attacker could be on the cards in Vlahovic, as owner Todd Boehly once again goes into transfer overdrive.

Are Chelsea signing Dusan Vlahovic?

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share an update he's heard on Vlahovic and Chelsea. He said that talks are back on through intermediaries, with a swap deal involving Blues striker Romelu Lukaku being spoken about.

“Chelsea are now back in talks again with Juventus through intermediaries — swap deal between Romelu Lukaku & Dusan Vlahovic has been discussed again.

“Chelsea will discuss Vlahovic internally as this option has been rejected in July.”

This isn’t the first time Chelsea have been linked with a move for Vlahovic, with journalist Dean Jones previously stating that conversations have already happened.

"I know some people are ruling out of Vlahovic and they say that nothing is happening there. But Vlahovic has definitely been explored by Chelsea and conversations have definitely happened in terms of that.

"The fact that they are even contemplating that, tells you they're tempted to go and sign another striker by the end of this transfer window."

Vlahovic, on a £215,000-a-week salary in Turin, has been dubbed a “goal machine” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig. The Serbia international is just 23 years of age but has already made over 170 appearances in all competitions for Fiorentina and Juventus, scoring 72 goals.

The left-footed forward also has 13 goals in 21 games for his country, so he could be the kind of striker Chelsea have been crying out for to potentially play alongside the likes of Nkunku and Jackson, especially after being named among the most powerful players in Europe alongside PSG's Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Erling Haaland last year.

It looks as if a move could well be one to keep an eye on, and if Chelsea can use Lukaku in a deal, a transfer may not end up costing the Blues Vlahovic’s reported €80m asking price.