Chelsea’s “top target” named in double evening update from top Sky transfer reporter

Chelsea are in what is perhaps going to be their busiest time of the year in terms of transfers, and various insiders are racing to be the ones who get to break the news.

Ben Jacobs and Fabrizio Romano have been leading the way when it comes to this week’s big stories, Mike Maignan and Jamie Gittens. But Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports doesn’t want to be left out, so he’s come back this afternoon with some snippets on both deals.

Maignan another step closer – but deadline makes things difficult

In what sounds like a line given to him by people at Stamford Bridge, the Sky transfer guru has explained that in the case of AC Milan goalkeeper, there’s a deadline of next week when the team head to the Club World Cup.

He confirms what others have said – that Maignan has told his club he wants to come to Chelsea, and that he won’t sign a new deal. That’s all very promising. The deadline makes it look difficult, but given the rest of the days reporting claims that both sides are getting closer on their valuation (which looked impossibly far apart just 24 hours ago), it’s still very open.

Gittens deal also progressing – with no deadline listed

Solhekol doesn’t have much original to say about Gittens – only that he’s a “top target” for the Blues and that the club are “exploring the parameters of the deal.”

This also sounds like a move that is progressing steadily – Gittens is definitely a player we want, Dortmund are willing to sell, and the numbers aren’t so crazy that we’re going to give up and move on to other targets anytime soon.

Is he the right player and the right fit? Well, that’s for our sporting directors to worry about.