Monaco, Everton sign replacements for Chelsea targets Bakayoko, Lukaku

While Chelsea are not expected to sign or even announce any new signings in the month of June, work behind the scenes is surely ongoing. Unfortunately, our two main targets, midfielder Tiemoué Bakayoko and striker Romelu Lukaku both appear to be stuck in negotiations over transfer fees, with Chelsea hoping to not pay €50m for the former and €90m (or more?) for the latter.

Meanwhile, the sellers themselves need to become buyers to replace the outgoing players and this is where progress seems to have been made on Saturday.

Monaco announced the signing of Soualiho Meïté, a 23-year-old defensive midfielder who was on loan at Zulte Waregem in the Belgian league from Lille last season. He’s quite highly rated in certain circles despite his low transfer fee (€8m), and many expect him to follow the blueprint laid out by many of Monaco’s recent signings — i.e. expect him to feature in big-money transfer rumors to the Premier League in a season or two.

Meïté looks to be a player very much in the mould of Bakayoko, and that’s a good thing for Chelsea’s hopes of finalizing that deal.

Meanwhile, Everton are getting close to signing Sandro Ramírez from Málaga. According to multiple reports, the 21-year-old passed his medical on Saturday and should be formally announced within the next couple days. Everton are getting a massive steal here for the former Barcelona prospect who scored 14 times in La Liga last season — his buyout clause was just £5.2m.

As our friends at Royal Blue Mersey point out, Sandro won’t replace Lukaku single-handedly, but Everton are intent on spending big this summer (helped by new owners, as well as the expected transfer income from a Lukaku move) and will be looking to sign at least one more forward to make up for the loss of Big Rom’s goals.

There may be plenty of drama elsewhere at Chelsea Football Club, but at least on these two front, we’ve got some good news to digest. (Probably.)