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Said Benrahma to Chelsea transfer hint as Brentford ace congratulated on move
Chelsea transfer target Said Benrahma has been congratulated by a friend over a move from Brentford to Stamford Bridge.
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Said Benrahma could be set to join Chelsea this summer after a friend appeared to prematurely congratulate the Brentford ace on a move to Stamford Bridge. The Blues are in the process of overhauling their first-team squad with a number of new signings targeted in addition to Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.
Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell are top of the transfer wishlist but Chelsea have been linked with a host of other potential arrivals as they keep their options open.
Benrahma falls into this category after starring for Brentford during their Premier League promotion push.
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The 24-year-old has scored 14 goals and provided eight assists in the Championship so far this season, sparking rumours of a move to the top flight.
Leicester and Newcastle have both been credited with interest but Chelsea were also in the hunt with the £25million ace a much cheaper option than other potential targets.
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Chelsea scouts were supposedly at Griffin Park last weekend as Benrahma struck a hat-trick in the Bees' 3-0 win over Wigan.
And Benrahma's friend Fahd Moufi dropped a huge hint that the Blues may have already conducted their business by congratulating the Algeria international during an Instagram Live session.
Moufi, who plays for C.D. Tondela in Portugal, wrote: "Felicitations pour Chelsea mon frere."
Translated into English, this means: "Congratulations on Chelsea my brother."
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The comment was accompanied by two love heart emojis and three pairs of eyes, sparking rumours of an already-completed move to Stamford Bridge.
If true, Benrahma would be a ready-made replacement for the departing duo of Willian and Pedro.
Both players are out of contract at the end of the season, having signed short-term extensions to cover the remaining games of the extended campaign.
Benrahma would therefore come into Lampard's squad to provide competition for Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech.
However, game time could be hard to come by if Chelsea also secure a deal for Havertz while Mason Mount, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all been utilised in a variety of advanced positions this season.
In addition, the Blues are searching for a new centre-back and are interested in Dclan Rice while they have recently been linked with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
A number of players will need to be sold in order to fund the signings, with Tiemoue Bakayoko and Michy Batshuayi surplus to requirements.
Atletico Madrid are expected to take up their £48.5m option on Alvaro Morata while Inter Milan have lodged a bid for Emerson Palmieri and Jorginho is wanted by Juventus.
Davide Zappacosta, Victor Moses and Danny Drinkwater will also be moved on if a buyer can be found.
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