Chelsea make contact with Wijnaldum - Thursday's gossip

WHAT HAPPENED
Chelsea have made an approach to Georginio Wijnaldum about joining the club on a free transfer, according to reports. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder is currently a free agent after leaving Saudi side Al-Ettifaq earlier this summer.

The round-up also includes several other reported moves and approaches: Arsenal are said to be open to pursuing Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi in January, Manchester United opted not to add a left-back late in the transfer window, and Everton have indicated they will not pursue free agents despite a difficult window. Other items include approaches for Lautaro Martinez that Inter rejected and reported transfer interest in Lamine Camara that could reignite.

KEY CONTEXT
- The Wijnaldum contact is reported by Foot Mercato; it is an approach rather than a completed deal.
- Wijnaldum is a former Liverpool midfielder and only recently left Al-Ettifaq, making him available on a free transfer.
- Several clubs continued to explore targets around and after the deadline: Arsenal with Kroupi (reported by The Independent), Newcastle and Aston Villa with Christian Kofane (Football Insider), and Chelsea with interest in Lamine Camara, where competition from Liverpool has been mentioned (Talksport).
- Other transfer reporting in the same round-up includes an attempted late Chelsea bid for James Garner that Everton rejected (Talksport), and Fabrizio Romano reporting Richarlison has agreed terms to join Trabzonspor.

WHY IT MATTERS
Bringing in a free agent like Wijnaldum would give Chelsea access to an experienced midfield option without a transfer fee, which can be an efficient way to add depth. The items collected underline that clubs remained active with strategic approaches even as the window closed, and several targets could resurface when the market reopens — particularly younger forwards and midfielders named in these reports. Confirmed rejections and refusals (such as Inter turning down contact over Lautaro Martinez and Everton rejecting a late bid for Garner) show some negotiations were blocked by clubs’ decisions rather than player availability.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Chelsea turn reported contact with Wijnaldum into an official signing or further talks (currently an approach reported by Foot Mercato).
- If Chelsea will revive interest in Monaco’s Lamine Camara and whether Liverpool will formally compete if that happens (Talksport).
- Whether Arsenal makes a concrete move for Eli Junior Kroupi when the window reopens in January (reported by The Independent).
- Whether Everton maintain their stance of avoiding the free-agent market despite their reported transfer difficulties (Telegraph).

KEY FACTS
- Chelsea have reportedly contacted Georginio Wijnaldum about a free transfer (Foot Mercato).
- Wijnaldum left Al-Ettifaq earlier this summer and is available as a free agent.
- Arsenal are reported to be considering a January approach for Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi (The Independent).
- Arsenal assistant Gabriel Heinze reportedly contacted Lautaro Martinez, but Inter did not consider a deal (Mail).
- Everton reportedly rejected a late £65m Chelsea bid for James Garner because the offer arrived after the deadline (Talksport).
- Fabrizio Romano reports Richarlison has agreed to join Trabzonspor with a salary reportedly three times his Spurs earnings.