‘My understanding’… Chelsea are not actually looking to sell 21-year-old in January

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Journalist Ben Jacobs has cleared up a number of reports that have linked the Blues with selling one player in January.

He told GiveMeSport that the Blues have no intentions in selling Noni Madueke on a permanent basis, with them believing that he is a long-term investment.

Madueke is one of the players at the club who have been linked with an exit in an attempt to balance the books in the coming transfer windows.

This is despite the Englishman only joining the side in January of this year, although his lack of appearances have sparked reports that he could be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

He has played mere minutes in the last couple of months. This playing time has also been impacted by an injury in recent weeks.

Despite those reports of an exit, Jacobs has cleared up the latest on what he has heard about the player.

Madueke not for sale

He said: “We’ve seen some reports out there that suggest he could be sold for £35million. That’s not my understanding.

“First of all, getting £35million is going to be quite hard because he has not been playing, but Chelsea paid £29million on a seven-year contract. They’re not just going to throw away that investment in the player.

“You don’t sign a player like that unless you believe that they are going to be at the club for the long-term, and you don’t fork out the best part of £30million if, a year on, you’re going to sell him for just £6million more. Those reports, I’m told, are not true about a permanent sale.”

It remains to be seen whether Madueke is named in the side to face Newcastle in the EFL Cup tonight, with Mauricio Pochettino hinting that he will be looking to go strong at Stamford Bridge tonight.