Watford in talks to sign Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo
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Watford have opened talks with Chelsea over signing exciting young striker Ike Ugbo in a £5 million deal.
Ugbo has impressed while on a season long loan at Belgium club Cercle Brugge this season. He scored 16 goals in 32 appearances, which was a major factor in their successful bid to avoid relegation from the top division.
Cercle Brugge had an option worth £5 million to make the deal permanent but the 22-year-old would prefer to move elsewhere.
How close is the transfer?
It is believed initial discussions began earlier this month and another meeting is scheduled within the next few weeks. A source has told
Football London, offloading six players who are out on loan away from Chelsea will help raise funds.
Midfielder Ross Barkley is the first of those players. The England international, who is at Aston Villa, impressed early on but injury has hampered his progress and
Furthermore, the 27-year-old earns £100,000 per week at
Chelsea, so freeing up such space on the wage bill and securing a solid transfer fee could prove worthwhile.
Fellow midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is also on the list of potential departures.
The Frenchman has not played for the Blues since the 2018 FA Cup final victory over Manchester United in 2018.
Photo by KURT DESPLENTER/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea Academy striker Ike Ugbo has made a huge positive impact at his current loan club, Cercle Brugge since his arrival at the start of the season. His last three goals, one against Beerschot and two versus OH Leuven last week, have helped to keep the team one position and four points above the relegation playoff spot in the Belgian top division, thus making their last match of the season coming up this weekend a mere formality.
With the team’s future secured, attention have turned to the future of Ugbo himself. With 15 goals to his name, sixth most in the league (and one more in the Cup), the 22-year-old has piqued the interest of several clubs around Europe, including the likes of Fulham, AS Monaco, Sampdoria, Bologna, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Russian Premier League side Rostov.
Ike Ugbo zu Eintracht Frankfurt? - Gerüchteküche - Forum transfermarkt.at - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from transfermarkt.at Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.