Now Chelsea have finalised the £40m sale of Nemanja Matic to Premier League rivals Manchester United, they are expected to be on the lookout for another central midfielder to bring to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have been linked with a move for Anderlecht standout Leander Dendoncker in recent times and perhaps Antonio Conte will now consider firming up his interest in the player now Matic is gone.
Speaking out about his situation earlier this summer, Dendoncker says he is yet to decide his future:
These are great clubs but I still do not know anything, I will talk to my agent and then we will see.
I’m waiting for his opinion, I’m focused on the national team and after that, I’ll decide.
Manchester United are also interested in the 22-year-old who impressed over two legs against United in the Europa League last season.
Anderlecht’s sporting director Herman van Holsbeek has discussed Dendoncker’s situation at the club and admits that big enough offers would be a problem.
We want to cherish him, but if a club is willing to pay between €25m and €35m then we have a problem.
He showed twice against Manchester United that he has the potential to play at a top European club.
We are lucky that the Champions League does not start until September, otherwise we definitely would have lost him.
It’s Holsbeek’s desire to have the Belgium international stay put for one more season before allowing him to move onto bigger and better things next summer.
We would like to see Leander stay here for one more season and work together on a transfer for next summer – just as we did with [Youri] Tielemans [who joined Monaco earlier this summer].
Chelsea could do with another talented central midfielder and Dendoncker would give the Blues options, especially considering that new arrival Tiemoue Bakayoko is struggling with an ongoing knee issue.
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