Another Alex Sandro diversion as PSG, Manchester City challenge Chelsea — report

Did you think that Chelsea’s interest in Juventus left-back Alex Sandro was oddly unrivaled, despite the outrageous transfer fees involved? Rarely is there a transfer after all in football these days, especially as far as the rumor mill is concerned, that does not involve several teams at least interested in a player’s signature. Creating a bidding war also behooves the player and the agent and the selling club as well, driving up prices and offers and attention and interest.

So in that sense, these rumors from Sky Italia are long overdue. Chelsea’s seemingly lone pursuit of Alex Sandro is lonely no more.

Di Marzio may be the bearer of these “bad” news — PSG and Manchester City “eyeing” Alex Sandro — but as we’ve been learning recently, there’s a difference in the quality of information delivered under the Oracle’s own name and when he’s just re-reporting stuff from Sky Italia, as in this case (the “tell” is the byline).

The rumor may still be true of course, and Chelsea themselves are no strangers to gazumping, but for a story like this to crop up seemingly so late in the game sounds more like last minute shenanigans than actual interest, or perhaps a diversionary tactic to get Chelsea to pay more than the already world record £61m fee that was reported by the Times at the start of this week.

Based on most of the chatter, Chelsea remain convinced that Alex Sandro will sign, while Juventus seem resigned to losing their world class left back in exchange for outrageous sums. Chances are, that’s exactly what will happen at some point soon.