Chelsea look set to spend Oscar funds as early as January
Published:
It’s not been a bad few months for Chelsea fans. Currently enjoying a 10-game winning streak in the Premier League, the title-favourites now look likely to further strengthen their team as we approach the second-half of the campaign.
Seemingly out of nowhere last week, Chinese outfit Shanghai SIPG came in with a bid for Blues outcast Oscar, with a fee estimated to be in the region of £60m.
Not a bad figure to receive for someone who’s started just five league games this season.
And while both clubs still need to dot a few i’s and cross a few t’s, it’s widely expected that the Brazilian will make the month when the January transfer window opens.
Of course, that leaves Chelsea boss Antonio Conte with a huge sum to play with, providing he wants to add to his team at the half-way point of the season.
We were expecting the Italian boss to add defensive reinforcements at the next possible opportunity.
But the Cheslea back-line appears to have turned a corner in recent weeks, conceding just two goals in their last 10 games.
With Kurt Zouma still to return to the first-team, things actually look pretty solid at the back for Conte – at least for the time being.
That means he could strengthen another area of the pitch, in particular the central midfield.
And if the latest odds are anything to go by, we could be seeing Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti in a Blues shirt very soon.
The four-time Ligue 1 winner has worked with Conte for the Italian national team, and the 24-year-old has played an instrumental role in PSG’s dominance in France in recent years.
With 23 assists in the French top-flight already to his name since arriving in Paris, Verratti would certainly fit straight into a side which has already set up star striker, Diego Costa, for 12 Premier League goals this season.
It’s thought Chelsea will have to part with in excess of £40m were they to secure Verratti’s services.
But, providing the Oscar deal goes ahead, that sum will seemingly be loose change for the west London outfit.
With 7/4 saying the PSG man makes Chelsea his next destination, it seems like only a matter of time before we see the Italy international plying his trade in England.
What do fans think? Would you welcome a player of Verratti’s calibre to Stamford Bridge? Or would Chelsea be fools to let Oscar leave?
Have your say in the comments section below!
Ladbrokes Latest Bertting
Marco Verratti Next Permanent Club:
Chelsea – 7/4
Man City – 7/2
Real Madrid – 7/2
Barcelona – 4/1
Man United – 5/1
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
