Chelsea agree shock Xavi Simons alternative transfer as London rival plots Raheem Sterling move

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Chelsea will be keen to pick up from where they left off when they return to action this weekend. The Blues will lock horns with Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon as Enzo Maresca's looks to clinch back-to-back wins in the Premier League.

While Chelsea may fancy their chances against the Cottagers, they're set to be without Cole Palmer, who's currently nursing a groin injury. Estevao Willian stepped in for the England international when the Blues stormed past West Ham, and he was an instant hit.

Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile will also miss the Fulham clash, but, fortunately, the summer transfer window doesn't shut until Monday, September 1, so the club could always bring in some last-minute cover.

Once the deadline passes, the lion's share of Maresca's squad will disperse for the international break. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up the latest Chelsea transfer news.

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Chelsea agree deal for Simons alternative

According to The Athletic, Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Facundo Buonanotte on a season-long loan from Brighton. The report claims there will not be an option to make the move for the 20-year-old attacking midfielder permanent.

It's said that Leeds United were confident they were about to wrap up a similar deal for Buonanotte, with a medical booked in West Yorkshire on Thursday afternoon. However, the Blues reportedly swooped in and secured the Argentina international's signature.

football.london says: "At face value, this deal doesn't look like a great deal for Chelsea, having not submitted a bid for Xavi Simons and not pursued Fermin Lopez. However, the Blues have essentially brought in a stop-gap for Kendry Paez, who will return from a season-long loan at Strasbourg next summer. He will then come in with a wealth of experience under his belt, and Facundo Buonanotte will go back to Brighton."

(Image: Copa)

Bayern focused on signing Chelsea striker

According to Sky Sports, Bayern Munich remain focused on signing Nicolas Jackson on loan from Chelsea. The report claims that the two clubs are currently in talks over the structure of the deal, with a purchase option and a loan fee worth up to €15m (£13m) at the centre of discussions.

It's said that the Bundesliga champions are aware that numerous clubs are trying to hijack their move for Jackson. Sky Sports reckon that Bayern have no intention of buying anymore players this summer, having already forked out £65m to prise Luis Diaz from Liverpool.

When Sky Sports asked Christoph Freund whether a double deal on deadline day was still possible, the German outfit's sporting director said: "We aren't ruling anything out. Talks are taking place. A lot always happens on the market in the final days of the transfer window. We're there, we're in talks."

football.london says: "If Nicolas Jackson is happy to sacrifice a slice of his minutes and fight for his place at Chelsea then I'd rather he stays at Stamford Bridge. That said, a loan to Bayern wouldn't be bad – especially if the Blues can bank £13m or so in the process."

Fulham plot late Chelsea swoop

According to the Daily Mail journalist Kieran Gill, Fulham are considered as frontrunners in the race to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea. The report claims that the Cottagers, who will face the Blues on Saturday afternoon, are the 'closest out of those interested' to wrapping up a deal.

It's said that Sterling is currently waiting to be presented his options by Chelsea. The 30-year-old winger reportedly wants to stay in London and the Premier League.

football.london says: "Raheem Sterling needs to get his career back on track this season. He's fortunate that a Premier League club is willing to take him on after his disappointing loan spell at Arsenal last term."

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