Chelsea transfer news: Club to wrap up Kenedy deal after work permit comes through

The Daily Mail reported on Thursday afternoon that the 19-year-old had successfully received a work permit to make the switch to London, having already impressed for the Blues during their pre-season tour of North America.

Previously linked with both Barcelona and Manchester United, Kenedy will be helped in his adjustment to life in England by compatriots Diego Costa, Willian and Oscar (among many others). Fellow teenager Nathan also signed for the club this summer, although he has already been sent on loan to Vitesse Arnhem.

After looking decent in Chelsea colours during pre-season it always seemed likely that Kenedy would officially become a Chelsea player sooner rather than later. But the news he has been given a work permit will nevertheless delight the club, and now allow them to move on and plot the next stage of his development as they look to turn him into a first-team regular.

Chelsea midfielder Ramires is set to join Serie A champions Juventus, according to reports in Italy. The Corriere dello Sport are reporting the Brazilian player is on his way to Turin.

Juventus are also in the market for Schalke forward Julian Draxler, but face competition from Manchester United and Arsenal to land the 21-year-old.

Ramires is apparently out of the picture at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea willing to do business to sell him on before the end of August.

Juventus have been forced to move for Ramires with midfielder Sami Khedira and Kwadwo Asamoah out injured. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has intimated that he is unwilling to flog the Brazilian midfielder, but that hasn't stopped him changing his mind in the past. Especially if they receive good money for the player. Selling Ramires would enable Mourinho to recruit a new midfielder before the end of the window. And create vital space in the champions' squad.

Juventus are set to bid for Chelsea midfielder Ramires, according to the Evening Standard.

Ramires has been on the fringes of the Chelsea team since Jose Mourinho returned to the club, and Juve are said to have been tracking the Brazilian for some time, adds the report.

While Chelsea are not actively seeking to sell the player and Mourinho is an admirer of his versatility, the Blues could be persuaded into doing a deal as the former Benfica man has entered the last two years of his contract.

This move could come down to the will of the player. Chelsea are happy with Ramires’s role within the club. So much so that they offered the Brazilian a new contract at the end of last season but while that remains unsigned, uncertainty will continue over his future.

The question is a simple one: is Ramires happy with a bit-part role at Chelsea? If so, sign the deal.

Atletico Madrid have reportedly turned down Chelsea’s £46 million bid for Spain star Koke, report Marca.

Jose Mourinho was said to also be interested in Koke's Atleti team-mate Arda Turan as he seeks to add further energy to his midfield.

However, having already lost one key component of their midfield in the shape of Turan, the Madrid club are said to be highly unlikely to sanction any move for Koke, Marca report.

Jose Mourinho may see Koke as an upgrade on his current No. 10 of choice Oscar. However, £46m is quite the risk on a player who has no Premier League experience, so a move of this magnitude would be in stark contrast to Chelsea’s current transfer modus operandi.

From Koke and Atletico’s point of view, this move makes little sense. As Kevin de Bruyne, Andre Schurrle and Juan Cuadrado will attest, reputation or transfer fee are no guarantee of a starting spot at Stamford Bridge. Why would Koke elect to move from Atleti where he is the fulcrum of the team to the comparative uncertainty of Chelsea.

Furthermore, Atleti are highly unlikely to countenance the loss of another their midfield stalwarts after the loss of Arda Turan.

Chelsea’s proposed move for Augsburg left-back Baba Rahman has hit a snag, with the deal reportedly pushed back until after the Blues’ season opener.

The Express have suggested the deal will be delayed until after Chelsea’s match against Swansea on Saturday.

Rahman, 21, is expected to provide competition to Cesar Azpilicueta.

Chelsea sold Felipe Luis back to Atletico Madrid earlier in the transfer window, leaving them short in the left-back position.

No need to panic.

Chelsea have ages to wrap up the deal and while it would be handy to announce it sooner, Azpilicueta (aka Dave) can easily hold the position until then. Rahman is not going to wade into the first team upon his arrival - his role is simply to cover injury. The Blues would have to be hugely unfortunate to lose Azpilicueta in their opening match. Plenty of time yet.

- - -

Everton boss Roberto Martinez admits John Stones has been affected by interest from Chelsea.

But the manager has emphasised once again that the Toffees are not a club looking to sell their top players.

There has been talk of Chelsea preparing a third bid for England defender Stones after so far having £20million and £26million offers rejected by Everton this summer.

And asked on Thursday whether the situation had affected the 21-year-old, Martinez said: "Yes, and it is something where you hope you learn from it and you get more mature and those experiences are good experiences.

"Clearly John is one of the outstanding young talents that we have in the squad and you are going to get that sort of interest from the outside.

"But all we are focused on is (Saturday's Premier League home match against) Watford. John is an Everton player and there is nothing else to comment on that."

When asked about the prospect of Chelsea coming back with an improved offer for Stones that Everton would find hard to ignore, Martinez said: "You shouldn't worry about situations you cannot affect or control.

"I said from the beginning - when you are not a club that is trying actively to sell players, the focus is just to try to be as good as we can at the weekend and see how ready we are individually and as a team.

"Everything else is stuff that does not bother me now at all."

The worry is that Stones gets promoted too soon.

He’s looked assured in the Everton defence, but that’s a completely different challenge to playing for Chelsea. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling could have benefited from another season at Blackburn and Fulham respectively – hopefully that’s not what we’ll be saying about Stones in a few seasons.

- - -

Baba Rahman has agreed personal terms ahead of a proposed switch to Chelsea, his agent has revealed.

The Augsburg left-back will be expected to provide competition for Cesar Azplicueta, who has the left back spot sewn up following the departure of Felipe Luis to Atletico Madrid.

"It is only the clubs that have to find an agreement,” said agent Sascha Empacher. “We on our side are agreed."

Rahman played 31 times as his side secured a surprise Europa League spot last season.

Yesterday Danny Rose, today Baba Rahman. It's time to just let this one unfold...

Rose represents less of a gamble, although why either player would want to join remains to be seen. Is Jose Mourinho really going to drop Azplicueta? It's highly unlikely - there are few managers in the Premier League who keep a consistent defence as Mourinho.

- - -

Chelsea have made a shock move for Tottenham full back Danny Rose, according to multiple reports.

The Blues were rumoured to be after Augsburg left back Baba Rahman, but it now appears they’ve turned their attention to the young Englishman.

The suggested fee is £15 million, which would surely tempt Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Rose eventually won the battle with Ben Davies for the left back berth at White Hart Lane last season and was expected to continue in that role next season.

It’s rarely straight-forward with Chelsea.

This could simply be a ploy to hurry along negotiations with Rahman. After all, Augsburg have already signed a replacement (Philipp Max from Karlsruhe).

Rose has shown quality going forward, but he’s often looked vulnerable in defence – straying from his intended position, creating space in behind, and allowing opponents a free route towards the Spurs goal. Would represent a big gamble from Chelsea.

- - -

Chelsea target Antoine Griezmann has reiterated his desire to stay at Atletico Madrid.

The French international has frequently been tipped to make a stunning £28.5m Stamford Bridge switch over the summer.

But Griezmann is keen to quash any lingering speculation about his future.

He told Spanish publication AS: "I only think about Atletico.

"I have just arrived at this club and I want to grow even more with Atletico. Therefore my thoughts are fixed here."

It's hard to take many Chelsea transfer rumours seriously - especially the ones which are reported to happen later on in a transfer window.

Griezmann - one of Europe's hottest forwards - would probably end up like Mo Salah and Juan Cuadrado even if he did decide to head to Stamford Bridge. This is surely a complete non-starter, even if there is legitimate interest from Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea are close to wrapping up the signing of the 21 year-old Augburg left-back Baba Rahman for £17.5m.

The Ghana international is set to be Jose Mourinho's second major signing of the summer as the pursuit of a replacement for Filipe Luis draws to a close.

The Brazilian departed for Atletico Madrid earlier this week, and Rahman had been identified as the ideal replacement.

“Both clubs are still working on fine-tuning but we hope the agreement will be finalised soon,” Sascha Empacher, who is the agent of Rahman, told the Guardian.

The deal is thought to be in the region of £17.5 million, after the club had an earlier bid of £14m rejected by Augsburg.

Rahman is highly rated after a superb debut season in the Bundesliga last year. Mourinho is likely to want to groom the 21-year-old into the left-back role with Cesar Azpilicueta thought to be first-choice.