CHELSEA are considering a shock £20million summer bid for Crystal Palace central defender Scott Dann.
The Blues are becomingly increasingly resigned to the fact that number one target John Stones will become Pep Guardiola’s first big signing when he takes over at Manchester City at the end of the season.
Chelsea failed in a £38m bid last summer for the 21-year-old Everton starlet and are preparing to look for alternatives.
The Metro reports: “Chelsea are lining up a deal to sign Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann.
“The Blues look certain to buy another centre-back this summer with John Terry set to leave when his contract expires.
“Chelsea had seen Everton’s John Stones as a perfect Terry replacement but he’s now likely to join Manchester City instead.”
While Dann has been a reliable and proven performer in the Premier League since arriving at Palace in 2014 a move to Stamford Bridge art this stage of his career would be something of a shock – certainly for anything approaching £20m.
At 29 years of age and with relatively limited experience at the elite level of English football, it certainly wouldn’t be a signing for the long-term, while there would be absolutely no re-sell value at all.
Of course much depends on who is in charge at The Bridge next season. Hot favourite Antonio Conte perhaps wouldn’t be put off by Dann’s age – the current Italy boss has already expressed an interest in Italian defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, who at 31 and 28 respectively are no spring chickens. However, the pair do have a total of 135 caps for their country between them – which stacks up rather well alongside Dann’s two appearances for England Under-21’s back in 2008!
Having said that, we’re sure Dann could do a solid enough job for two or three years at Chelsea but for £20m, there have to be better options.
What do Chelsea fans think? Would you be interested if the fee was a bit lower?
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Football Advisor – bet with confidence.
Terje Riis
Mar 1, 2016 at 10:05 am
He is under long term contract with The Eagles! You wanna sign Dann, fine, but you have to pay up!