Chelsea transfer news: Blues enquire over Ezequiel Lavezzi switch as David Luiz's £48m move to PSG nears completion
Former Napoli star signed for French champions in 2012 but is said to gave gained the interest of Chelsea's hierarchy
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea reportedly made an enquiry over the availability of Paris St-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi during the negotiations over David Luiz’s £48m transfer, with the Blues maintaining an interest in the Argentinian international.
Lavezzi will be focused on the upcoming World Cup having been named in Argentina’s 23-man squad, but he could find himself the subject of a transfer bid from Chelsea upon his return to Paris. The 29-year-old could even find himself part of an offer from PSG for Blues winger Eden Hazard, given that manager Laurent Blanc has openly admitted that the France international is their prime target this summer.
With PSG set to complete the swoop for Luiz later this week – the centre-back tweeted his farewell to fans on Saturday – the two clubs look set to continue negotiations, even though Lavezzi only signed for Parisian side in 2012.
Chelsea officials are believed to have been impressed by Lavezzi over the past few years, with manager Jose Mourinho getting a good look at the forward in the recent Champions League quarter-final between the two clubs. He scored in the 3-1 first leg victory that appeared to have put the Parisian club on the verge of the Champions League semi-finals, only to lose 2-0 in the second leg and allow Chelsea to progress to the last four.
Should Lavezzi move to Stamford Bridge, the Argentine will likely meet-up with another new striker in Diego Costa, with a £32m move edging towards completion, and Chelsea are said to be confident they will have the transfer sealed before the World Cup begins on June 12.
Mourinho also remains keen on strengthening his defence as he keeps tabs on two of Atletico Madrid’s star names. The La Liga champions lost out in the all-Madrid Champions League final on Saturday, but have impressed many this season in toppling Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Spanish Primera Division this season.
The Blues have been linked with a move for left-back Filipe Luis for some time, given that Ashley Cole has now departed, but they could also look to add right-back Miranda in the summer which would see Mourinho complete a triple-raid on the Spanish champions if he were to pull off all three transfers.
There is also a plan to try and sign Real’s Raphael Verane, although they are rather pessimistic on their chances of getting the Champions League winners to allow the France international to leave.
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