Chelsea eye £34.7m discount on Jorrel Hato transfer amid Ajax decision as 'direct contact' made

Chelsea are still targeting two new signings this summer despite having already spent roughly £170 million on five confirmed transfers.

Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens saw their moves announced during the Club World Cup with Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr arriving prior to the tournament kicking off.

While Enzo Maresca's focus was on winning games, which the Blues did all the way to the final, the prize money obtained from those victories was significant.

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Through being crowned as UEFA's first official world champions, Chelsea took home a staggering £88.4m in prize money with just over half of the funds spent on transfers.

Getting at least £48.5m from Noni Madueke's move to Arsenal and £25m Djorde Petrovic's switch to Bournemouth also means Chelsea are essentially even with regard to money in and out which suggests further additions can be made.

Madueke leaving may see a replacement come in with Malick Fofana, Alejandro Garnacho, Morgan Rogers and Xavi Simons all options. A defender signing is also a real possibility with the Blues considering a move for Ajax star Jorrel Hato, football.london understands.

Arsenal have also been linked but their focus is on wrapping up a deal for Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera. The Dutchman, who can play in the middle of defence and at left-back, is expected to cost £40m but Ajax are now asking for something closer to £60m, as per journalist Ben Jacobs.

Chelsea, if a formal approach is made, will likely try and agree a deal at the former fee with it possible the departure of their own defender can help fund the Hato deal.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid have made direct contact with Renato Veiga's camp and the Portugal international is keen on the move.

Chelsea want a package totalling £34.7m (€40m) to sell with the Spanish club prepared to advance in negotiations. If the Blues are able to sell Veiga at that price, they will recoup nearly three times what was spent to acquire his services last summer.

It would then make sense for Chelsea to use any money acquired from that on their move for Hato with the Conference League winners in a much better financial position to hit Ajax's newer asking price if needed.

Though Chelsea are well-stocked at centre-back, Hato's ability to fill in at left-back makes him a great option given how much football Marc Cucurella has played over the last 12 months.

His potential arrival could also lead to Benoit Badiashile sealing a permanent exit alongside Axel Disasi and Veiga.