3pm: Blues contact £128million player’s agent, as Chelsea make first summer signing
According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Chelsea have made contact with the agent of Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez.
Saul, who has a £128million release clause, is also wanted by Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Saul has dropped down the pecking order at Atletico, with the arrival of Rodrigo de Paul underlining that further.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is reportedly pushing the club to sign the Spanish midfielder.
Chelsea make first summer signing
Chelsea have made their first summer signing in the shape of Marcus Bettinelli.
The free agent has joined the club as back-up goalkeeper providing cover to both Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
He will fill the void left in the Chelsea squad after the departures of both Willy Caballeros and Jamal Blackman.
Bettinelli has been a free agent since leaving Fulham at the end of June following the expiration of his contract at Craven Cottage.
Aston Villa were also interested in signing him, but he has turned them down and has chosen to make the short journey across West London instead.
Now 29, Bettinelli came through the youth system at Fulham and earned one cap for England at under-21 level.
He has had loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Middlesbrough and made 120 appearances for Fulham in all competitions.
He is of partial Italian descent on his father’s side, who is the Fulham Academy goalkeeping coach.