Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Wigan Athletic’s Harrison Bettoni as a free agent, marking the club’s first confirmed signing of the summer transfer window. The 18-year-old forward, who scored four goals in 27 first-team appearances for Wigan, will join the Blues with a small compensation fee paid to his former club, according to Football Insider. Bettoni reportedly attracted interest from AC Milan and Manchester City, but has chosen to continue his development at Stamford Bridge.
Alongside the confirmation of Bettoni’s arrival, Chelsea are reportedly preparing a significant bid for Real Madrid’s Arda Guler. Transfer insider IndyKaila reports that the club is considering a €115 million offer for the Turkey international, with a move potentially contingent on the sale of Enzo Fernandez. Guler has been linked with a move to Chelsea since the appointment of Xabi Alonso, with the pair having previously worked together at Real Madrid.
Chelsea are also looking to offload defender Axel Disasi, who has struggled to make an impact since joining the club. The BBC reports that the 28-year-old will be allowed to leave on a permanent transfer after loan spells at Aston Villa and West Ham United, with two unnamed Premier League clubs and an Italian team expressing interest. Chelsea are expected to accept a loss on the fee to remove his wages from the books.
Goalkeeper Mike Penders has stated that “anything is possible” regarding his future, amidst speculation of another loan spell. Penders, who impressed during a loan at Strasbourg, will return to Chelsea for pre-season under new manager Xabi Alonso, but remains uncertain about his role within the squad. He expressed his desire to prove himself during pre-season, but acknowledged the possibility of another loan move.
Reports from Spain, as reported by AS, suggest that Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has “already agreed” terms with Barcelona. Despite Chelsea previously stating Pedro is not for sale, the Spanish outlet claims he is a primary alternative to Julian Alvarez. Finally, Real Madrid are reportedly monitoring Chelsea defender Levi Colwill, though he is not a top priority for Los Blancos. Morgan Rogers’ representatives are only in advanced talks with Arsenal and Bayern Munich, according to FootballTransfers, despite Chelsea’s interest.
