Could Chelsea swoop for the £15 million rated Ajax defender?
The Mail report today that Chelsea’s transfer plans for the summer are full-steam ahead, with a new manager set to be handed funds of up to £250 million.
If this is true, and we suspect there may be a slight inflation when it comes to accuracy of figures here, the Blues could afford to blow their rivals out of the water this summer, with the exception of Manchester City.
It will not be news London rivals Arsenal want to hear, especially if Chelsea are determined, as the Mail have reported, to land Jan Vertonghen.
Vertonghen has been linked previously with Tottenham and Newcastle as well as Arsenal, but the Gunners are believed to be the favourites- Until now at least.
He had praised Belgian international teammate Thomas Vermaelen and indicated that his presence could attract him to sign with the Gunners.
Chelsea though have a couple of Belgians of their own to make Vertonghen feel at home, providing Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne are handed first team opportunities next season.
At Arsenal there are rumours that Per Mertesacker would be allowed to leave to return to Germany if Vertonghen arrives, but even so he would have to break up the successful Vermaelen-Koscielny axis which has been so successful for Arsenal of late.
Chelsea have more questions over their centre-backs, with strong rumours persisting that David Luiz will become a target for Barcelona.
It is reported by the Mail that if Luiz does leave, then Vertonghen will be his replacement, and with John Terry increasingly struggling with injuries, he would be a useful acquisition.
The issue is, if Luiz leaves it may be a long protracted saga, as has been seen by the way Barcelona undercut their targets asking price, seen in their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez last summer.
By time it happens, Arsenal could have Vertonghen’s signature all wrapped up, and Chelsea’s interest is just one more reason why Arsenal should act to sign him early.
Would Vertonghen be a good fit at Chelsea?
image: © geetarchurchy
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