Chelsea give Tuesday deadline ultimatum to free agent Bernard — report

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia), Chelsea have grown tired of playing the waiting game with Brazilian free agent Bernard, who is also a target of AC Milan. The Blues have issued an ultimatum of sorts to the 25-year-old, giving him until next Tuesday — as in two days before the transfer window closes in England — to decide whether or not he joins Chelsea.

It coincides with a report from the Corriere dello Sport (via Inside Futbol), which claims that Bernard’s agents are travelling to London to hold a meeting with Chelsea. They will likely hear Chelsea’s proposal, as Milan’s director Leonardo has asked to delay negotiations so he can decide whether he truly wants to sign Bernard or not.

Chelsea’s interest in Bernard remains a curiosity. Certainly, he would be a bargain acquisition, with no transfer fee and a reported €3m in annual wages (~£100k per week). But with all three senior attacking midfielders in the squad tied to the club until at least 2020 and probably not leaving before the start of the season, all Bernard would do is take away precious minutes from Callum Hudson-Odoi.

I think we can safely let Milan have him.