Your morning Chelsea digest on Monday, January 2.
Chelsea 'agree' £33million fee for Benoit Badiashile
Chelsea are in the market for a new striker, central midfielder, centre-back and back up option for Reece James, football.london understands.
The Blues are closing in on the signing of Benoit Badiashile after agreeing a £33million fee with Monaco, as per The Athletic.
The deal for the 21-year-old is worth in the region of €37-38million (£32.8million-£33.7million) with the Blues having agreed personal terms with Badiashile on long-term contract. The French defender's medical is in process of being scheduled by the club.
READ MORE: Chelsea signing set for immediate move away as Graham Potter plans £13.3m Joao Felix loan deal
Why Todd Boehly will be forced to pay Enzo Fernandez's release clause
Benfica star Enzo Fernandez has been heavily linked with a transfer to Chelsea in January after an impressive World Cup campaign with Argentina. The 21-year-old midfielder could find himself in the Premier League this month, but Benfica will only let him go if a club pays his £106million release clause.
According to the Mirror, Fernandez's former team River Plate will be owed 25% of any fee Benfica received for the Argentina World Cup hero. The Primeira Liga club are therefore keen to maximise Fernandez’s price tag to ensure they are properly remunerated.
Things learned from Forest draw
Chelsea struggled on Sunday as they only managed to scrape a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in their first Premier League game of 2023. With a big year ahead of the Blues, here's a look at four things Graham Potter will have learned from the clash on his current side.
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Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
