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Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Chelsea signing BOMB, Man Utd NEGOTIATIONS, Liverpool BID
Tom Weber
- Updated: 12 Sept 2025 14:50 BST
- 6 min read
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Fabrizio Romano has provided some massive updates on the biggest transfer stories from around Europe, including the latest on Emanuel Emegha, Lisandro Martinez and Federico Chiesa.
Chelsea sign Emegha
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano announced that Chelsea have signed Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha.
"Today, Chelsea have signed a new striker for 2026 and it's going to be Emanuel Emegha. It's a 'here we go,' it's a done deal, also confirmed by Chelsea. Chelsea have reached, obviously, an agreement with Strasbourg because they have the same ownership.
"It's a pre-agreement, everything is signed and done for 2026. Emegha is a striker who plays for Strasbourg in France, doing very well. Chelsea already in June, July planned for Emegha in 2026. But now the deal is done.
"Fast striker, physical, can attack the space. He's considered a very good striker by Chelsea and they decided to let the player stay at Strasbourg as he wanted to for this season, to lead Strasbourg into European football, to be a crucial player for Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
"Strasbourg are more than happy about that because again, it's the same ownership, and so Chelsea don't want to create a problem for Strasbourg. There were clubs keen on signing Emegha, plotting a move, preparing a move for Emegha in 2026.
"Chelsea can decide what they want to do. If they want to bring the player in January, bring the player in the summer based on how the season is going at Chelsea, how is the injury situation, how is Emegha doing, how are Strasbourg doing. There are several factors to consider, then Chelsea will assess this internally.
"Meanwhile, they have the player under contract. It's a seven-year deal for Emegha at Chelsea. Emegha is very enthusiastic about the possibility of playing in the Premier League because also a German club, an important German club, wanted to consider a move for Emegha. But his desire was to go to the Premier League, go to Chelsea."
Chiesa to fight for his Liverpool place
Next up, Romano addressed Arne Slot's comments on Federico Chiesa and revealed that Besiktas made a bid for him.
Today in a press conference, Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, commented about the situation of Federico Chiesa. I can reveal to you that Besiktas made an official proposal to Liverpool over the recent days before signing Jota Silva and before trying for Leandro Trossard, who was another top target for Besiktas this summer but is staying at Arsenal, with a new contract already agreed.
"Official bid, loan with an option to buy, same conditions they offered for Silva. €2 million, €3m loan fee and then an option to buy for Chiesa. Liverpool said no thanks. They prefer to keep the player. Also, Chiesa, with a very honest, but also smart behaviour, despite being excluded from the Champions League squad by Slot.
"Today, Slot said in a press conference, it was tough for me, it was difficult for Federico. Of course, he was not happy, but he reacted in a very good way. What Federico did was to tell Slot, 'OK, boss, I'm sad, but I respect you, and I'm prepared to fight for my spot in the Premier League and in the domestic cups.'
"Chiesa will give his best for Liverpool in the upcoming month and didn't want to move to Besiktas because he wants to give his best for Liverpool. The same also happened on Liverpool's side. Liverpool didn't want to accept the proposal for Chiesa on loan because they see Federico still as an important part of the squad."
Kudus to Chelsea wasn't as advanced as reported
Fabrizio Romano then responded to a recent report claiming that Chelsea were close to signing Mohammed Kudus earlier this summer.
"Kudus was a potential target for Chelsea at the beginning of the summer transfer window, but from what I'm hearing, the deal was never really close. They tried, they negotiated, there was a conversation with West Ham, there was a conversation with the agents, Kudus was considered as one of the players who could have been part of the Chelsea project already for the Club World Cup.
"But it was never something really close to being agreed because West Ham didn't want to include a player in the deal. They prefered to do the deal with Tottenham. Kudus was more than enthusiastic to go to Tottenham because he trusts the project, he spoke to Thomas Frank. Frank was a really important factor in this story.
"Tottenham offered what West Ham wanted in terms of transfer fee, so not including players, but just putting the money on the table and letting West Ham decide how they want to use that money. So this was probably the crucial factor."
Martinez set for Man Utd contract talks
Lastly, Romano revealed that Man Utd are planning to extend Lisandro Martinez's contract.
"Contracts at Man Utd will now be an important part of the focus for the club after this summer transfer window. One of the situations to follow, from what I'm told, is the one of Lisandro 'Licha' Martinez. Licha is out with an injury. Licha is not available now, but he will return as soon as possible.
"My understanding is that Man Utd want to discuss a new contract with Licha. He's out of contract in 2027. Man Utd don't want to go into late 2026 with the player not having his contract extended yet to avoid the problems.
"And so what Man Utd will try to do is to negotiate with Martinez before arriving in the final year of his contract. Now, waiting for the player to return, of course, there is no rush, no pressure, but for sure, Man Utd want to try as soon as possible. My feeling is as soon as Licha will be close to returning, they will try to accelerate."
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