Chelsea eye Haaland alternative and set Zappacosta price as Hazard plots return

Chelsea are yet to dip into the summer transfer market, but Thomas Tuchel is still expected to strengthen his squad before the window closes next month.

The Blues are looking to build on last season's Champions League triumph by handing Tuchel reinforcements ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

While they have been linked with a host of world-class names, though, Stamford Bridge officials are still waiting on their first signing of the summer.

However, there remains plenty of time for that to change with the window not set to shut until August 31, so we're on hand with the latest Chelsea transfer gossip below.

Haaland alternative

Reports suggest Chelsea have pinpointed Erling Haaland as their top transfer target this summer, yet Sky Germany claim Borussia Dortmund have turned down their opening offer and slapped an intimidating £150million price tag on their star man.

A dream move for Haaland may therefore be off the cards, so The Sun are reporting that Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic has now been identified as a potential alternative.

Kalajdzic, 24 years of age and 6ft 7in tall, bagged 16 goals in 33 games for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga last season and represented Austria at Euro 2020 this summer, scoring in their 2-1 last-16 defeat against Italy.

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Zappacosta price set

Davide Zappacosta looks likely to depart Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks after returning from his loan spell at Genoa last season.

Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport believe Chelsea value the 29-year-old right-back at just £10million, with a move back to Serie A most likely.

Inter Milan were being linked with Zappacosta earlier this summer, but it is believed the Italian champions have since turned their attention to Arsenal's Hector Bellerin.

Hazard wants return

According to Marca, Real Madrid flop Eden Hazard is set to hold talks with new boss Carlo Ancelotti as he continues to eye a potential return to Chelsea.

Hazard waved goodbye to the Blues in 2019 after seven years at Stamford Bridge to secure his dream £130million switch to Madrid.

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Yet, his time at the Bernabeu has been marred by a series of injury problems, meaning he has been unable to justify that hefty price tag.

The Belgian is now understood to be targeting a move back to Chelsea this summer, although it remains to be seen whether his former club would welcome him back as a veteran member of Tuchel's young squad.

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