Chelsea create ‘five-man transfer shortlist’ as they prepare to let Jorginho go for FREE

Chelsea have forged a five-man transfer shortlist in hopes of luring a high-profile midfielder to Stamford Bridge while Blues bosses prepare to let Jorginho leave the club on a reportedly free transfer.

Chairman Todd Boehly, who stepped down as the club’s interim sporting director this week and handed recruiting responsibilities to Paul Winstanley and Christopher Vivell, is reportedly keen to keep star midfielders N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount on new deals.

The Blues have verbally agreed to sign disgraced Atletico Madrid striker Joao Felix for £9m by the end of the season, but it is understood the west London club will do that too after a lackluster midfield Graham Potter’s midfield wants to strengthen start of the campaign.

Chelsea ‘forged a five-man transfer shortlist after preparing to let Jorginho run for free’

Brighton midfield duo Alexis Mac Allister (L) and Moises Caicedo (R) ‘are on Chelsea’s shortlist’

Chelsea will ideally look to strengthen the engine room this month but could hold out until the end of the season and instead attack the market in the summer, according to The Telegraph.

Despite Benfica star Enzo Fernandez being top of the transfer target list, negotiations have stalled with the Portuguese club unwilling to run the world champions for a fee worth less than his £112million buyout clause to permit.

Fernandez is joined on Chelsea’s list of big-money targets by Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, as well as England internationals Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.

Former Chelsea academy star Declan Rice could leave West Ham to join the Blues this summer

Roger Schmidt has claimed that Enzo Fernandez’s proposed move to Benfica is now ‘complete’.

Brighton are reportedly more willing to listen to offers for Caicedo this month in a bid to keep World Cup winner Mac Allister at least until the end of the campaign.

Ex-Independiente star Caicedo joined the Seagulls on deadline date in February 2021 and has since played 29 senior games for the South Coast club.

During his two-year tenure, the Ecuador international has impressed as a box-to-box midfielder, assisting Brighton with both skill and physicality in attack and defence.

Mac Allister’s successful World Cup season, which saw Argentina lift the famous trophy in Qatar last month, attracted interest from several European clubs ahead of the January transfer window.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham is also wanted by Real Madrid and Liverpool

A key player for Potter during the Brighton manager’s tenure, Mac Allister would provide Chelsea’s midfield with an extra boost of creativity, which has been lacking in the recent absence of playmaking full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell.

Former Blues Academy star Rice, who has since developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the league at West Ham, is a key target for Boehlys at Stamford Bridge, with the England international likely to break new ground in the summer.

Finally, the Blues bosses will reportedly be eyeing a deal for Borussia Dortmund superstar Bellingham, although the Real Madrid and Liverpool target is likely to have the biggest valuation following his impressive campaign with England in Qatar.

Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Atletico Madrid to loan Joao Felix out for £9million

It’s understood that Jorginho, who was nominated for the Ballon d’Or after his Champions League and European champions year with Chelsea and Italy in 2021, is unlikely to sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

It is questionable whether offering the 31-year-old midfielder a new contract in the summer after a disappointing season under Potter so far would be a good deal for Boehly.

The Italian is yet to register an assist and has netted just three goals in 22 appearances in all competitions so far this season.