According to reports from The Sun, Chelsea are leading the race to sign Witsel from Zenit St. Petersburg this summer.
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The latest development is a huge setback to Ronald Koeman’s Everton, who were reportedly very close to agreeing on a move for the Belgium global for £28m, but it seems like that their move has been hijacked by Chelsea.
The 27-year-old, who moved to Zenit in a £32 million move four years ago, has only one year left on his current deal with the Russian club.
Witsel is looking to leave Zenit this summer after publicly expressing his desire to play for a “big European club” in England or Italy.
Whilst Napoli have reached an agreement with Juventus for Roberto Pereyra and are awaiting a response from the Argentine, the club are hoping to add another box-to-box player to their squad.
Everton, with their reported £100m transfer fund, want to make the Belgian their best paid player ever and smash their own transfer record by offering him£120,000-per-week on a £30m transfer.
The Blues have already had their initial bid of £32million turned down for the Portugal global.
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The Blues are said to be interested in the DR Congo worldwide winger but their plans might be hit on two fronts with Tottenham and West Ham also in the frame and the 27-year-old believed to be keen to remain in London.
