The focus at Chelsea today has been on four players leaving the club – Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja, Trevoh Chalobah and David Fofana have all reportedly been banned from the club’s first team facilities as the sporting directors aim to force them to accept transfers away.
But there’s also plenty of incoming action to distract unhappy fans.
One deal has dragged on for a while – the talks over Samu Omorodion seemed to go nowhere for a long time, but then suddenly over the course of the last week have rushed through to the end. According to Fabrizio Romano, the striker has arrived in London today to complete “formal steps” ahead of his move for £34.5m. It’s not clear if that includes a medical – but one would imagine that he wouldn’t go back to Spain without doing one, even if everything else is not quite tied off yet.
Meanwhile his future teammate Pedro Neto has had the opposite in terms of tracking his move. There was nothing concrete bar a few whispers that our scouts like him, then suddenly yesterday the news broke that a deal had been agreed.
Romano says he’s “completing his medical” right now.
The pair should both be presented as Chelsea players at some point in the next few days, and could potentially even be on the bench for next weekend’s opening Premier League fixture against Manchester City if Enzo Maresca feels that’s necessary.
🚨🔵 Pedro Neto, completing his medical at Chelsea… while Samu Omorodion arrives in London.
Spanish striker lands in England today ahead of formal steps for £34.5m deal from Atlético.
Omorodion will sign seven year deal at #CFC. pic.twitter.com/Kl14e1ehSV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2024
Big chances for both to make instant impression
Omorodion is an interesting case because Nicolas Jackson has yet to feature in preseason. The Senegal striker may struggle to make match fitness for next weekend’s season opener given he’s only ramping up his preseason, whereas Omorodion should be fit to play some decent minutes.
We will find out a lot more in tomorrow’s final friendly of the summer against Inter Milan.
