Matchplug

Chelsea have turned their attention towards the signing of Islam Slimani of Leicester City.

The Blues are currently in the market for a new attacker, and the Algerian has emerged as a target.

Antonio Conte has asked the club to sign him a big front man who is able to score headers since he came to Stamford Bridge.

However, despite losing Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid last summer and missing out on signing Fernando Llorente, Chelsea are yet to land a new frontman.

Alvaro Morata is obviously out of form and short of confidence at the moment Conte wants a new attacker to help the Spaniard share the goalscoring burden.

Slimani has been frustrated by the lack of trust his managers at Leicester City have shown in him since he moved to the King Power Stadium, and wants a move away.

He has netted 8 times in 25 games since joining at the start of the 2016/2017 season.

Leicester City wants to take him off their wage bill permanently, but Chelsea are looking for a temporary move, which Leicester City are objecting.

The two clubs are still negotiating and the Blues hope that a loan fee would persuade Leicester City to allow Slimani join them.

As the race for his signature heats up, a move to the Premier League is getting closer for Bordeaux’s Malcom.

The Brazilian youngster is one of the most sought-after players in this window after his name came up as a potential replacement for Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool have distanced themselves from the rumors claiming he was heading to Anfield, yet rumors about him moving to the Premier League is refusing to go away.

Arsenal and Tottenham remain in the hunt for his signature, however, the signing of Mkhitaryan and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang may have seen the former drop their interest.

Tottenham’s boss Mauricio Pochettino believes Malcom would thrive in the Premier League.

According to the Sun Sport, the player has revealed that he dreams of playing in the Premier League.

While he admitted that the decision on where he would be moving to next lies in the hands of his agent, his dream remains to play in the Premier League.

He has scored 7 goals in 20 games for Bordeaux this season, his new manager Gus Poyet has been asked to keep him happy at the club beyond this month.

Tottenham know that competition for his signature would increase after this season and they want to sign him this month.

Tottenham are interested in signing Atletico Madrid’s star Kevin Gameiro this month.

Mauricio Pochettino is looking for a new attacker to help reduce the goalscoring burden on Harry Kane.

According to Sun Sport, the Argentine manager believes Gameiro has what it takes to thrive in the Premier League and wants to bring the French man in for the next 6 month.

Gameiro was a subject of interest from Swansea earlier this month, but he told them he was not interested in joining.

The 30 years old is one of many strikers on the books of Atletico who the Spaniards are looking to sell to balance their books.

Gameiro also has interest from the Turkish league, but he wants to keep his options open until next summer.

Pochettino signed Fernando Llorente from under the noses of Chelsea last summer, but the former Juventus striker has only scored once this season.

Harry Kane scored 57 goals last year and has netted 21 already in the Premier League this season.

Pochettino wants to rest him in other competitive games like the FA Cup but needs another attacker who is capable of delivering the goals.

Manchester City are ready to complete a move for Lille’s midfielder, Boubakary Soumare.

The French youngster has been compared to Paul Pogba because of his box-to-box ability on the field of play.

He came through the ranks at PSG but got his debut with Lille in November.

City are one of many Premier League sides who have been watching him this season.

Ideally, the Cityzens would prefer to sign him in the summer as a replacement for the outgoing Yaya Toure, but they might miss out on his signature if they wait that long.

According to Sun Sport, Everton and Leicester City are also interested in signing Soumare and any of them could sign him this month.

Lille are currently looking to balance their books and would not reject a big money offer from the Premier League.

The 18 years old is currently valued at £25 million.

Although he may need a loan move to further his development, Pep Guardiola wants to bring him to the Etihad immediate so that he can bond with his teammates.

He is expected to one day become a full French international as he has been starring for their youth teams.

Southampton have dropped their interest in Liverpool’s attacker Daniel Sturridge after the Reds demanded £50 million.

The Saints just missed out on signing Theo Walcott from Arsenal after the England attacker joined Everton.

But they are in desperate need of firepower at Saint Mary.

Sturridge has fallen well down the pecking order at Anfield with the likes of Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke preferred to him.

But he wants to play in the World Cup later this year and knows he cannot be considered regular first-team action.

Inter Milan and Sevilla have enquired about his availability this month, but the duo are looking for temporary deals which is not ideal for Liverpool.

With just 18 months left on his current deal, Liverpool run the risk of losing him for nothing after next season.

Southampton are the only side who have signaled their intent to sign him permanently but the £5o million asking price set by Liverpool is unrealistic for an attacker that is injury prone and would be 29 years later this year.

Southampton are looking at signing the attacker for £20 million, that may be too little for Liverpool who just signed Virgil van Dijk from them for £75 million.

Chelsea’s search for a big target man goes on as they turn their attention towards Burnley.

Sun Sport is reporting that the Blues are planning a shock move for Ashley Barnes after failing to sign a target man from a top Premier League side.

The Blues wanted to sign Andy Carroll from West Ham but the deal was off after the England man got injured.

Crystal Palace also declined their request to discuss the transfer of Christian Benteke.

They are currently in talks with AS Roma for the transfer of former Manchester City attacker, Edin Dzeko.

However, the Bosnian is reluctant to return to the Premier League and knows he would play second fiddle to Alvaro Morata.

Barnes has scored just 3 league goals this season, but his industriousness has impressed Antonio Conte who thinks he can bring the tough edge they are lacking in attack.

Barnes has had a journeyman career playing for the likes of Torquay and Brighton.

Chelsea are ready to send Michy Batshuayi out on loan this month, with Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund keen, but they have to land a new target man first before allowing him to leave.

Bayern Munich have won the race for the signature of Leon Goretzka and the German top talent has had his medical.

Goretzka was one of the most sought-after youngsters in the world with all the top Premier League giants looking to prize him away from Schalke 04, but his he was only delaying the inevitable.

According to Mail Sport, Schalke’s director confirmed the news that the 22 years old has agreed to join the Bavarians after this season.

Schalke were desperate to keep hold of the 12 time capped Germany international, but they were unable to tie him down despite their best efforts.

He joined them from Bochum in the summer of 2013 and has helped them to third place in the Bundesliga this season as they look to return to the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp was keen on Goretzka as he believed the midfielder would be a good replacement for Philippe Coutinho, however, the Reds failed to persuade him that a move to the Premier League was good for him.

Arsenal and Manchester City were also linked to him.

Goretzka has started 11 games for Schalke this season, scoring 4 goals.

Chelsea have turned their attention to Christian Benteke as their search for a new attacker goes on.

The Blues have been looking to sign a tall forward with Premier League experience this winter, but they have not been able to get a deal over the line.

Andy Carroll, Edin Dzeko, and Peter Crouch are some of the big names they have considered bringing in this month, but they are now focused on trying to get Benteke.

Edin Dzeko’s agent reportedly told the Blues that his client was happy to remain in Rome, while Stoke City rejected a temporary move for Crouch.

Chelsea are looking for six months deal for an attacker as they anticipate that Antonio Conte would not be their manager come next season.

Crystal Palace are not interested in selling Benteke this month, and would not even consider a temporary move at all.

However, if the Blues make a huge bid for a permanent move, they could listen to the offer.

He joined the Eagles for £27 million in August 2016 and has been one of their most important players, but his wage of over £100,000 a week is heavy on their wage bill and they would look to take that off their finances if a good offer comes along.