Deportivo respond to Chelsea's transfer offer for Yeremay Hernandez

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Deportivo La Coruna have turned down Chelsea’s bid to sign Yeremay Hernandez this January.

Chelsea are scouring the market for attacking reinforcements and have identified Hernandez, 22, as one of their top targets after the winger’s eye-catching start to the season.

Hernandez has shone in a struggling Deportivo side, racking up eight goals and three assists in his opening 18 games, despite the club languishing down in 17th place in Spain’s Segunda Division.

Reports emanating out of Spain claim Hernandez’s performances have begun to attract the attentions of Europe’s elite, with Chelsea lodging an opener offer in the region of €10million (£8.5m) for the forward.

The Stamford Bridge giants had hoped to sign Hernandez this winter before sending him on an immediate loan to Todd Boehly’s Strasbourg for the remainder of the season.

But according to Marca, Deportivo are determined not to lose Hernandez midway through the campaign and Chelsea will have to look elsewhere for the time being.

Hernandez – who is also on AC Milan’s radar – has a €20m (£17m) release clause in his current Deportivo contract, which runs through to 2030.

'I don't know, I'm talking to my agent,' Hernandez said when asked for an update on future after Deportivo’s 1-1draw with Malaga last weekend.

'I don't know what's going to happen. If I leave it will be to take a step forward.'

Deportivo’s general manager, Massimo Benassi, has been unequivocal on the matter, stating: ‘He and his agents know that the club’s position is clear.’

It’s understood Chelsea have also been pursuing a deal for Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel this month, with the Blues prepared to part with Christopher Nkunku in a proposed swap deal.

But Bayern this week issued a clear response to Chelsea’s interest through sporting director Christoph Freund, who stressed that Tel remained a key part of Vincent Kompany’s plans at the Allianz Arena.

'He is a very important player for us and we are in very good contact because he's a great talent and should play an important role for us,’ Freund said at a press conference on Tuesday.

'We have had many discussions. Our clear goal is for Mathys to make his breakthrough with us.

'We are very happy with our squad when it comes to both quality and quantity.

'Of course, if a player is unhappy, we can talk about it. But our clear plan with Mathys is for him to make his breakthrough here.'

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