Chelsea transfer news: Blues set to clash with Everton for William Carvalho as Antonio Conte criticises "crazy" market
All the latest transfer stories from Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 27 July
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea and Everton are set to clash for the signature of Portugal midfielder William Carvalho, according to reports.
Having lost out on Roma’s Radja Nainggolan – who is expected to stay with the Italians – Chelsea have now turned their attention to the 24-year-old.
Although Antonio Conte has confirmed that Nemanja Matic will be staying put at Stamford Bridge, it's understood the Italian is still keen to bolster his midfield options ahead of the coming season.
The Blues are also said to be monitoring Blaise Matuidi’s situation after PSG manager Unai Emery recently suggested he would permit the Frenchman to leave the Parc des Princes.
Matuidi is believed to have become unsettled at PSG following the signing of Grzegorz Krychowiak from Sevilla and is looking for a new football “experience” beyond France.
Conte has also spoken out against the “crazy” financial state of the transfer market.
As the Blues struggle to sign the likes of Alvaro Morata, Romelu Lukaku and Kalidou Koulibaly, all of whom have been valued in excess of the £50m mark, Conte recently touched upon the difficulties Chelsea face in signing their top targets - despite having already spent £65.1m on Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante.
“This season we are seeing a crazy market - it’s incredible,” he said.
"When you touch a player it’s very difficult because you must pay a lot of money. I don’t know if this situation can continue.
"It’s very difficult for all the teams to try and buy the players. Now, we are starting to speak about £100m, £120m, £95m, and these prices are incredible.
"But this is football now. It’s important that we must maintain the passion. This is the most important thing, to transfer our passion and transfer it to fans and players."
Former Chelsea defender Jeffrey Bruma has revealed he had the opportunity to return to the club this summer. The 24-year-old was sold to PVS in 2013 after rising through the ranks at the Chelsea academy.
The Dutchman revealed that a number of European clubs, including the Blues, had enquired about a potential transfer deal but he opted to sign for Wolfsburg.
Speaking to Bild, he said: “"I had other options such as Inter Milan. I could have re-signed for Chelsea, who wanted me.
“There was a way to stay at PSV, who play in the Champions League regularly. But, in the end, I was attracted by Wolfsburg’s project.
"Wolfsburg is a club where I can play. This is very important for my further development.
“At Chelsea or Inter, it would have been difficult for me to make the next step.”
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