Chelsea transfer news: Graham Potter completes first January signing amid race with Real Madrid

All the latest Chelsea transfer news and gossip ahead of the January window including updates on Endrick, David Datro Fofana and Josko Gvardiol

AL RAYYAN, QATAR – DECEMBER 09: Josko Gvardiol of Croatia looks on ,during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium on December 9, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
Josko Gvardiol looks on ,during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Croatia and Brazil
Your morning Chelsea transfer round-up on Friday, December 16.

Endrick ‘confirmed’
Chelsea look set to miss out on the signing of Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick to Real Madrid amid Graham Potter’s hunt for a new striker. The 16-year-old has been heavily linked with a number of Europe’s top sides lately as he continues to impress for the Brazilian side.

In an official statement released by the reigning La Liga champions, Real Madrid confirmed that the ‘next Neymar’ and his family have reached an agreement whereby he’ll arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu once he turns 18 in July 2024. It’s said that the Brazil youth international will travel to the Spanish capital in the next few days to visit the club’s facilities.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Endrick has penned a contract which keeps him at Real Madrid until 2027 with the option for three additional years. The Evening Standard reported that the youngster’s father, Douglas, was heavily involved in deciding his son’s future and conversed with the agent of prospective teammate Vinicius Junior.

First Potter signing
Graham Potter looks set to complete his first Chelsea transfer by signing David Datro Fofana from Molde in an £8.6million move. The 19-year-old striker has scored 15 goals and provided a further five assists in 24 appearances so far this season

Fofana has one year left on his current deal with Molde but now looks set for a switch to Stamford Bridge. Personal terms are still being discussed between the player and Blues but a deal is expected to go through in the coming weeks, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix had emerged as possible options for the Blues in January but it seems they have opted for a relatively unknown quantity in Fofana.

Gvardiol transfer race

Chelsea have been told how they can beat Real Madrid to the signing of RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian defender enjoyed a stellar World Cup campaign as he helped his nation reach the semi-finals.

Todd Boehly is keen to add further signings to Graham Potter’s squad in the January transfer window with Gvardiol having been monitored by the club for some time, football.london understands. Speaking to soccernews.nl, Gianluca Di Marzio said: “I know that Chelsea and Real Madrid are the two clubs that are showing the most interest at this moment.

“They already made offers. His price is going to be higher after this World Cup and probably Chelsea has the best possibility to do this deal in January, whereas Madrid prefers to do it during the summer. I know that the most important clubs in Europe are fighting for Gvardiol.