Chelsea take sudden interest in £43m transfer raid as Liverpool eye stand out Klopp replacement

We begin Wednesday's Premier League transfer rumour round-up with resurfacing claims that Chelsea are interested in signing RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. According to a report from MilanLive.it, the Blues are eager to challenge AC Milan for the 20-year-old's signature in the near future.

Sesko has been attracting attention from Italy after hitting nine goals in 26 outings this season, but it is now understood that Chelsea have made a 'sudden insertion' into the race for his services, having been tentatively linked with him in the build up to the January transfer window. It is understood that the forward has a release clause of around £43 million written into his current contract in Germany.

The 3AM Verdict: Another potential solution to Chelsea's ongoing attacking woes. The Blues desperately need a striker, and there is no denying that Sesko is a player of immense potential, but whether he is the finished article that Mauricio Pochettino's men need in the here and now is a matter of some debate. Either way, this has the feel of a rumour that could linger for a while to come.

Uzun in demand

Elsewhere, Newcastle United and Fulham have 1. FC Nürnberg star Can Uzun on their respective radars, according to German outlet Bild. The teenage attacker has been garnering plenty of attention in recent months, with the Magpies having already been linked with a possible swoop during the January transfer window.

Now, however, Eddie Howe's men have been joined in the race by Premier League rivals Fulham, with both clubs keen on the Turkish youth international, who has 13 goals and three assists in 20 league outings this season. Uzun could be available for as little as £6.8 million in the summer transfer window, as per this latest update.

The 3AM Verdict: Uzun is evidently a precocious talent, and if he is indeed available for such a cut price fee in the coming months, then you can understand why Premier League clubs might be willing to take a gamble on him. For a player of his age to be producing as frequently as he is would suggest that he is something quite special, and now it just remains to be seen whether he can make a smooth transition to a top continental division.

Liverpool want Alonso... or Amorim

And finally, according to journalist Gianluigi Longari, Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is 'first on the list' of Liverpool's desired replacements for departing manager Jurgen Klopp. The German will leave Anfield at the end of the season, and it is understood that former Reds midfielder Alonso is very much at the forefront of plans to replace him.

Longari goes on to suggest that the Spaniard is not the only name being considered, however, with Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim also an option. It is claimed that the 39-year-old 'stands out' from a lengthy list of candidates that is being mulled over presently.

The 3AM Verdict: Either Alonso or Amorim would represent a fine appointment for Liverpool at a crucial juncture. Obviously, the former has garnered an awful lot of attention already from various speculative sources, but the latter continues to impress on a weekly basis in Lisbon, and it is surely only a matter of time before he earns himself a switch to one of biggest clubs in European football.