Chelsea emerge as 'new option' for Liverpool-linked midfielder with €60 million release clause - Reports

Chelsea have emerged as the latest team to express interest in Sporting Club de Portugal's Manuel Ugarte. Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Liverpool are also said to be tracking the midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window.

Ugarte has been a key player for Sporting in the last two years. He stepped up to fill the void left by the departure of Joao Palhinha to Fulham. The youngster has been an integral part of the team, and his performances have caught the eye of top teams across Europe

The 22-year-old is an energetic player who's composed on the ball and reads the game well, attributes that have seen him get compared with Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni.

Since joining the Portuguese club from Famalicao in 2021, Ugarte has made 82 appearances across competitions, scoring one goal and providing three assists. He's a defensive midfielder, who is also adept at playing in central midfield.

While he's contracted to Sporting till 2026, he has a €60 million release clause. Portuguese media outlet Record has reported that Chelsea are the ‘new option’ for the Uruguayan, who's said to be ready to make a big move at the end of the season.

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is said to be a ‘confessed admirer’ of Ugarte, who's represented by Jorge Mendes and Jorge Chijane. Boehly, incidentally, is a close partner with Mendes, which could come in handy when dealing with Sporting.

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Chelsea set €25 million price tag as Ruben Loftus-Cheek inches closer to exit

Chelsea have reportedly slapped a €25 million price tag on Ruben Loftus-Cheek amid interest from Serie A giants AC Milan.

Loftus-Cheek, who came through the ranks at the Blues' academy, joined the club as an eight-year-old. Since making his senior debut in December 2014, he has made 152 appearances across competitions for Chelsea, scoring 13 goals and picking up 18 assists. He has won five trophies with the club, including two Premier League titles.

Loftus-Cheek is entering the final year of his Blues contract but has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. AC Milan have expressed interest in acquiring his services this summer, according to Calciomercato.com.

The West London side is prepared to sell the Englishman, as they need to raise funds to balance their books. The aforementioned report also says that they have set a €25 million asking price for the player.