Chelsea set to make millions from doing nothing, transfer battle surpasses £35m

Chelsea could be set for a further cash injection this summer with the Blues not even having to lift a finger, as they could pocket a tidy profit on a player that left in 2024

Chelsea could be set for a windfall without lifting a finger as former player Omari Hutchinson appears to be on the move this summer. The attacking midfielder made his way to Ipswich Town on loan in the summer of 2023, before sealing a permanent deal for £22million last year.

Now, five clubs across Europe are reportedly keen on the young talent, with Brentford and RB Leipzig having tabled offers of £35m in July. Nottingham Forest, Everton and European heavyweights Inter Milan have all shown interest in Hutchinson, according to The Sun, and Ipswich will be hoping to spark a bidding war for his services.

The Bees are expected to come back with an increased offer of £37.5m, but other clubs could step in before then, with West Ham, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund all reportedly interested.

Chelsea wisely included a 25% sell-on clause for Hutchinson, meaning they will receive a quarter of any transfer fee Ipswich receive for him. It's understood that the Blues also have first refusal on the player if another club tries to sign him - but they appear happy to sit back and bank their slice of the pie.

The 21-year-old, who only played twice for Chelsea, looks set to depart from the Tractor Boys this summer after making 82 appearances in all competitions. Hutchinson netted 14 goals and provided eight assists for the club but couldn't prevent their drop from the Premier League last season.

Ipswich's Championship status could well be a pivotal reason that the young midfielder wants to move on, given his previous comments on playing at the top level. Speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times in March, Hutchinson said: "It's a dream come true for me to play in the Premier League, facing the biggest teams in the world.

"All I've tried to do is perform as best as I can. There's been a lot of ups and downs, but I think it builds character for me and the team as well."

Hutchinson enhanced his reputation further with his displays at the Under-21 Euros this summer, appearing in all six matches for England. He netted the second goal in the Young Lions' 3-2 triumph over Germany in the final, establishing his credentials as a rising star both domestically and on the international stage.

Addressing Hutchinson's absence from their pre-season preparations, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna acknowledged that the club will do everything possible to support his well-being during the potential transfer saga.

After the player didn't travel to France for the club's friendly against Auxerre, McKenna said: "Omari, with the speculation around his future at the moment, he didn't feel mentally in the right place to come for the game.

"It's a challenging situation for everyone. He's a player that we love and we support and we have empathy with, with the year that he's been through and this important moment in his career.

"We'll keep working and communicating on that situation as well and hopefully it'll be the best resolution for the club and for the player."