Chelsea could be set this summer for a further injection of money, where the blues didn't even have to lift a finger, because they could visit a neat win on a player who left in 2024
Chelsea can be set for a windfall without lifting a finger, because the former player Omari Hutchinson seems to be moving this summer. The attacking midfielder went on loan in the summer of 2023 to Ipswich Town, before he closed a permanent deal for £ 22 million last year.
Now five clubs throughout Europe are said to be fond of the young talent, where Brentford and RB Leipzig have submitted offers of £ 35 million in July. Nottingham Forest, Everton and European heavyweights Inter Milan have all shown interest in Hutchinson, according to the Sun, and Ipswich hopes to generate a bid war for his services.
The bees are expected to come back with an increased range of £ 37.5 million, but other clubs were able to intervene earlier, with West Ham, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund all reportedly interested.
Chelsea has wisely recorded a 25% clause for Hutchinson, which means that they receive a quarter of the transfer costs that Ipswich receives for him. It is clear that the blues also have the first refusal on the player if another club tries to sign him – but they seem to lean back and soften their slice of the cake.
The 21-year-old, who only played twice for Chelsea, seems to be leaving the Tractor Boys this summer after making 82 performances in all matches. Hutchinson yielded 14 goals and offered eight assists for the club, but could not prevent their fall from the Premier League last season.
The championship status of Ipswich could be a crucial reason that the young midfielder wants to continue, given his earlier comments about playing at the highest level. Hutchinson spoke with the East Anglian Daily Times in March: “It is a dream come true for me to play in the Premier League, with the largest teams in the world.
“The only thing I have tried to do is perform as well as possible as I can. There have been many ups and downs, but I think it is also building a character for me and the team.”
Hutchinson further improved his reputation with his displays on the under-21 euros this summer and appeared in all six games for England. He scored the second goal in the 3-2 triumph of the Young Lions about Germany in the final and established his references as a rising star both in the interior and on the international stage.
In the absence of Hutchinson in their preparations for the season, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna acknowledged that the club will do everything possible to support its well-being during the potential transfersaga.
After the player did not travel to France for the friendly club to Auxerre, McKenna said: “Omari, with the speculation around his future at the moment, he did not feel mentally in the right place to come for the game.
“It is a challenging situation for everyone. He is a player we love and we support and we have empathy in, with the year he has experienced and this important moment in his career.
“We also continue to work and communicate about that situation and hopefully this is the best resolution for the club and for the player.”