Chelsea announce transfer deal, Blues target tells club ‘he will leave, Prem star tipped join Chelsea

Here is a roundup of the top Chelsea news, gossip and transfer latest from icfootballnews that we think you may have missed today…

CHELSEA goalkeeper Max Merrick has completed a loan move to National League South side Hampton & Richmond, the Blues have officially announced on the club website.

Hampton & Richmond posted: ‘We’re delighted to reveal that goalkeeper Max Merrick has officially joined the Beavers on loan from CHELSEA!”

IcFootballnews View…

Merrick would have been hoping by now that he could be working his way into that first team rotation, that he would be in line to play come cup competitions for the club, but that is not the case. He is a very good talent that could make a big impact on the game in the coming seasons, so this loan move is very good for Merrick as he will get some game time for the National side.

CHELSEA have so many talents in that academy that have not been good enough over the seasons to make the step up and make their appearances for the first team, those are players that have been forgotten about and lost into the system.

There will probably be alot more signings made by the Blues board in the coming transfer windows, there will be many more talents signed by the club that will make it even more difficult for players to come through the system at Stamford Bridge that many will have to leave.

This will probably be one of many loan spells for Merrick over the coming seasons, he will just be hoping that he gets to play on a weekly basis.

So even though it is probably not the move that he would have 100 per cent wanted to make, he is probably happy that a club have shown an interest in giving him the game time that he wants and needs to develop.

GITTENS WILL LEAVE DORTMUND

Long-standing CHELSEA target Jamie Gittens will leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer if the club do not qualify for the Champions League, it has been claimed in the media over the past few days.

It is no secret that Chelsea have been trying to sign some of the very best talents in the game over the past few transfer windows and have brought in some quality players that have made an impact this season.

But there is always room for growth at CHELSEA – and that means the club will continue to seek players that will come in, sign massive contracts and hopefully develop into the stars of the future, and now the Blues have their eyes on their next transfer target,

While no decisions have been made about his immediate future, Chelsea is said to have expressed a concrete interest in getting a potential deal done for Gittens at the end of the current season, but could face the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool for the lads signature.

Dortmund currently sit 10th in the Bundesliga and currently seven points behind the Champions League places, and according to reports on BILD, Gittens has told the club that he will leave the side at the end of the season if they not achieve Champions League football.

The report adds that Gittens wants to be competing against the very best clubs on a weekly basis, and challenging for trophies.

However – amid the speculation – reporter Iomie Stanley has claimed that it is not the right time for the lad to leave Dortmund, he told icfootballnews: ‘Gittens is showing the kind of potential that will take him far in the game, he is a real star of the future.

However, despite the fact the Premier League is the dream destination for alot of young stars, despite the fact he would get a massive wage from coming to England and despite the fact he could join one of the big boys, he is not ready.’

‘We have seen so many young talents come to the Premier League in recent seasons and get forgotten about, alot of those stars have signed for CHELSEA , so right now the lad should stay put.

‘Of course Dortmund will be tempted by the money – but the right thing to do for Gittens is stay put, develop over the next few seasons and then look for that big move if needed.’

KELLEHER TIPPED JOIN CHELSEA

Caoimhin Kelleher has been tipped to leave Liverpool and make the move to CHELSEA at the end of the season, as he is too good to be sitting on the bench at Anfield, claims Danny Murphy.

Liverpool are reluctant to sell Kelleher to a direct rival but would still likely accept an offer in the region of £30million, but the stopper has made no secret of his desire to be the first-choice goalkeeper somewhere after spending the past five and a half seasons as a back-up option behind Alisson Becker.

Kelleher has made 61 appearances for Liverpool since graduating from the club’s academy and making his first-team debut in 2020, but has been tipped to leave the club, and Stamford Bridge will be one option for the stopper to make in the summer.

‘I think next season at Liverpool we will have Alisson starting and Giorgi Mamardashvili on the bench with Caoimhin Kelleher leaving,’ the former Liverpool and England midfielder told OLBG.

‘My understanding is that Kelleher will leave and there won’t be short of takers, he is an outstanding goalkeeper and deserves the chance to go and be a number one.

‘I think he will get a really good move and Alisson will have a season in front of Mamardashvili to help him learn and get settled.

‘Where could Kelleher go? Well, I think Chelsea’s an obvious one, although I think Robert Sanchez is improving hugely. I think he gets some unfair criticism for a few mistakes here in the season. I think he’s actually a really good goalkeeper.

‘He just gets a bit nervous at times with the ball at his feet. But CHELSEA an obvious one and I think probably Newcastle, if they’re thinking of evolving as a club and becoming more competitive.

‘Nick Pope has been a great keeper over the years but having more injuries at the minute and he’s not the best with his feet. He’ll admit that himself.

‘I think for Kelleher, Newcastle or Chelsea are two wonderful options for him.’

IcFootballnews View…

Chelsea have been linked with a move for Kelleher for a while now, but there has been no real suggestions that the Blues are actually interested in the player, that he is a star that could improve the side.

If Chelsea want him, a move wont be made until the summer as Enzo Maresca is happy with the stoppers that he has at the club right now

MORE BIG CHELSEA NEWS AND GOSSIP

Top Read:  German tells Chelsea 30-goal target worth £52M has incredible potential

Most Read: Director addresses speculation deal with Chelsea will happen for £65M star

Top Pick: Chelsea in talks over £65M deal as attack open to completing January move

LOVE CHELSEA? CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND GOSSIP