Chelsea preparing big-money move for Sampdoria’s star striker
Published:
Chelsea could be set to bulk up their strikeforce next season, with reports linking the Blues with a move for Sampdoria hotshot Luis Muriel.
The 25-year-old has shone for the Serie A outfit this term, and the press claim Antonio Conte is preparing a £24m move.
Muriel has been the star man for Sampdoria, netting six times in addition to five assists. In total the forward has directly contributed to 11 of his side’s 17 league goals.
The Colombian international joined the Genoa-based outfit last summer for £9m, after four years with Udinese.
In a steady first season with I Blucerchiati Muriel scored six times while supplying seven assists, but this time around he’s well set to smash both of those tallies.
His contract runs until 2019, but it’s believed it includes a minimum fee release clause, to the princely sum of £24m.
With Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi already at Stamford Bridge, Conte doesn’t need a goalscorer anytime soon.
But it’s Muriel’s number of assists and link up play which may well see him fit in under the Italian in west London.
The Blues are currently enjoying a sterling run of form, with seven straight wins lifting them from eighth to first in the Premier League.
But Conte will face his greatest test this weekend, when he takes his side to the blue half of Manchester for a date with Pep Guardiola’s City.
The bookies make Chelsea 12/5 to claim an eighth straight win and lay down a real marker to their title rivals.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
