Latest: Ben Jacobs names “issue” with top Chelsea target, but confirms Blues are in the race | OneFootball

This short window between the end of the season and the start of the Club World Cup is proving very spicy, as you’d expect.

Chelsea getting business done ahead of Club World Cup

Teams like Chelsea, who are competing in the new format of the tournament in the US, want to get as much business done as possible before then, so they can show off their shiny new toys to the fans and so their coaches can get some time working with any new additions ahead of a strange summer without a traditional pre-season.

One deal is already done – Liam Delap is joining from Ipswich, but he could be joined by another striker. The rumours of the last few days have seen some pretty strong reporting from the German media (including top man Florian Plettenberg) that Hugo Ekitike of Frankfurt is a serious target for the Blues, despite a €100m price tag.

Jacobs pours cold water on Ekitike rumour

Ben Jacobs updates Chelsea fans on reported interest in Hugo Ekitike.

Well, before you get too excited, it’s worth reading Chelsea insider Ben Jacobs’ latest report on the rumour.

He says that a deal for Ekitike is “not moving as fast as some German media reports suggest,” and that “nothing is that advanced yet.

“Frankfurt’s €100m asking price is an issue,” he concludes. Jacobs does, however, confirm that Chelsea “are looking at another striker after Liam Delap.”

Chelsea unlikely to match monster asking price

€100m is a crazy sum, but given it’s just what Frankfurt are demanding to start with we can imagine a final price being far lower, especially if you exclude bonuses and add ons.

It’s interesting to hear that Chelsea are willing to spend on a second striker signing of the summer. Does that hint at dissatisfaction over Nicolas Jackson’s form?