Chelsea to bid for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić in January if allowed — report

It’s been less than a week since CAS announced a hearing date for Chelsea’s transfer ban appeal, and even though no one knows when CAS might actually render a verdict, and surely no one seriously expects them to reduce the ban after FIFA’s recent revelations regarding the magnitude of Chelsea’s infractions, the rumor mill wasted no time in linking and re-linking Chelsea with transfer targets old and new.

And despite Chelsea’s riches in midfield, it is one of the most common positions popping in these rumors. The latest is a reappearance of a certain Sergej Milinković-Savić, who apparently is Chelsea’s “No.1 target” if and when the transfer ban is lifted. So claims the “exclusive” from the Mirror, who add that Chelsea “will bid” as soon as possible, which could mean January, if CAS do indeed lift the ban for January. And If not, then next summer.

The Mirror put Milinković-Savić at £70m, which is in line with previous rumors regarding the 24-year-old midfielder, which have involved all the usual suspects, but especially Manchester United. So far, Lazio have stood firm and rejected all offers, but are expected to eventually relent. At that point, SMS will become one of the biggest transfers of all time. Whether this is where Chelsea should be spending our saved up transfer dollars is less obviously clear.