Fabrizio Romano CONFIRMS Chelsea transfer rumour

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed one significant Chelsea transfer rumour but says the identity of the player who has been linked with the Stamford Bridge club is unlikely to be accurate.

The football transfer news expert has backed up claims that the Premier League club are on the hunt for a centre-back in the January transfer window.

Romano also revealed the identity of at least one player who is set to leave Chelsea in the forthcoming window.

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Writing for the Daily Briefing, the transfer expert said that the Blues are following central defenders but that links with Murillo are likely to be off the mark.

He said: “I’ve seen the rumours about Murillo and Chelsea, and what I can say is that Chelsea are following several players in the centre-back position but no talks taking place yet.

“There are so many links but there’s nothing concrete or really advanced now.

“Also, Murillo would be very expensive for any club as when Juventus thought about him last summer, Nottingham Forest didn’t want to open the doors for him to leave.”

Nottingham Forest put a price tag of €50m on Murillo during the summer, when Chelsea and Juventus were both interested in signing him.

Chelsea star wants out

Romano says that Chelsea are looking for a solution with Carney Chukwuemeka, who is unlikely to receive significant game time under Enzo Maresca.

Signed from Aston Villa in the summer of 2022 for €18 million, he has featured for only 14 minutes in the EFL Cup this season, not even making the matchday squad for the Conference League matches with Servette.

“Maresca clarified that the plan this summer for Chelsea was for Carney to leave, but only to a club that would give him a good opportunity,” Romano says.

“A club where he could play 38 games, not moving to a club where he was not going to be a regular starter.

“This was why Chelsea rejected many approaches from Milan and others during the summer transfer window.

“Carney ended up staying of course but he’s not playing, so the club will look for a solution in January.

“Chukwuemeka wants to play and Chelsea don’t want him to stay out of the squad for too long, so work is in progress already.”

Chelsea face Gent in the Conference League on Thursday and Chukwuemeka is not expected to have a role to play in that fixture.