Chelsea plot intriguing big-money transfer shortlist as Liverpool prepare bold Fulham raid

Welcome to Thursday’s round-up of all the juiciest Premier League transfer rumours doing the rounds – and we start today’s run-down at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are eyeing up a long-term replacement for Thiago Silva. The veteran Brazilian (and his apparently frustrated wife) are likely to head back to Brazil come the summer when his contract ends, and that leaves a pretty yawning gap at centre-half.

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea have drawn up a four-man shortlist of possible summer signings to fill that void, which consists of Sporting’s Ousmane Diomande, Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié, OGC Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo and Lille’s Leny Yoro.

All will be in demand this summer and Chelsea are unlikely to be the sole bidder for any of them, but it’s clear that they are once again looking to youth with Todibo, 24, the elder statesman of the defensive triumvirate. The report mentions that Yoro is more likely to head to either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain, while Todibo is wanted by both Manchester United and Arsenal.

The 3AM Verdict: Given the freedom to make the choice – which Chelsea, who won’t be able to offer Champions League football, won’t be able to – we’d probably go for Todibo as the most sure thing out of the four, but the other three are all huge talents and none of them would make a bad purchase. We suspect Yoro will indeed head elsewhere, unfortunately for the Blues, while United will be in pole position for Todibo, but Chelsea could easily lead the race for either Diomande or Hincapié, both of whom are excellent players.

Liverpool linked with Fulham full-back

News now from Anfield, where Liverpool are already planning for the post-Klopp era – and according to Football Insider, their analysts have been busy with their work and have come to the statistical conclusion that the club should make a bid for Fulham’s American left-back Antonee Robinson.

The former Wigan Athletic defender has had an impressive and much-improved season and Liverpool have apparently been “wowed” by his performances, while also noting that he leads the Premier League in interceptions made. No word on how much Robinson, who is under contract until 2028, would cost, but we assume he wouldn’t be allowed to leave Craven Cottage on the cheap.

The 3AM Verdict: Robinson has come a long way over the past year, and is now one of the most consistent left-backs in the top flight, with excellent underlying numbers both defensively and offensively, as Liverpool’s stattos have apparently noted. Whether left-back constitutes a pressing need given that Andrew Robertson is still only 29 is an open question, however, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see their summer cash splashed elsewhere.

Eriksen staying put at Old Trafford

Manchester United might be planning to knock Old Trafford down, but while it still stands we’ll still see Christian Eriksen strutting his stuff there – regardless of transfer rumours linking him with a move to Galatasaray, who can sign players through to the end of the week thanks to the later closing date for the Turkish transfer window.

This is according to 90min, at least, who reckon that reports of the 31-year-old’s departure are premature, despite the fact that the Dane has started just nine matches so far this season. Apparently he’s happy with his reduced role at United and doesn’t plan on a move, and it sounds as though the club won’t try to force him.

The 3AM Verdict: Eriksen has lost half a yard of pace and doesn’t seem to be quite as consistently creative as he was in his salad days, but he’s still a useful squad member and given United’s injury issues earlier in the season, they’re probably loathe to let anyone go who still wants to be there. Besides, they really wouldn’t be likely to get much money out of a deal, even with Galatasaray newly enriched by the sale of Sacha Boey to Bayern Munich. We suspect that 90min are right, and that he stays put.