«Not over» – Journalist now hints at another Chelsea signing after Aubameyang and Zakaria
Chelsea could still pursue a deal for Barcelona’s Memphis Depay after tonight’s transfer deadline, according to journalist Simon Phillips.
Phillips recently informed GiveMeSport that Chelsea are expecting to make two signings before tonight’s 11pm deadline – Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria.
Zakaria has undertaken a medical in Turin after Chelsea agreed a loan deal with an option to buy with the Serie A side, while Aubameyang is set to join in a move that will see Marcos Alonso move the other way.
But tonight’s 11pm cutoff only relates to transfers between clubs. Teams can still sign free agents or complete emergency loans.
And while Fabrizio Romano has reported that Depay could yet leave Barcelona today, Phillips has claimed that Chelsea could end up signing him after the window has closed – if the La Liga giants were to release him from his contract.
Depay’s deal is due to expire at the end of the season but Romano claimed earlier today that there is a readiness to terminate his contract.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Phillips claimed that although Chelsea are only planning on two more signings today, their pursuit of the Netherlands international isn’t necessarily over.
He said: “Depay is not over, by the way. If Barcelona terminate his contract, then Chelsea can obviously still sign him after today as a free agent if that happens. Chelsea are still monitoring it and still considering it as an option if he does become a free agent. At the moment he’s currently training with Barcelona, so that’s why I don’t expect anything to happen tonight. But he’s still an option for Chelsea if he becomes a free agent – other clubs are interested as well.”
Depay – who Transfermarkt currently value at £31.5m – always tends to divide opinion but there is no doubt that he’s enjoyed affluent spells throughout his career. In fact, he’s scored at least nine goals in each of his last five league campaigns, and even hit 20 goals and 12 assists during his final Ligue 1 term at Lyon.
At the same time, Chelsea have been in the market for a wide forward this summer. They walked away from a potential deal for Everton winger Anthony Gordon and have also been linked with Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.
Signing Depay on a free transfer could prove to be a smart solution, although it remains to be seen what kind of wages and contract the Dutchman would demand.
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