Bournemouth Stand Firm as Chelsea Circle Marcus Senesi: A Transfer Saga Unfolds
19 January 2026
Transfer Watch: Bournemouth Holds Firm as Chelsea Circle Marcus Senesi
Bournemouth are reportedly blocking any January offers for Marcus Senesi, the Argentine center-back, despite Chelsea listing him as a target. The Cherries want to keep him until the season ends.
Chelsea are among clubs weighing a move, but Senesi has reportedly turned down several renewal offers as his contract nears its final year.
According to TalkSport Bournemouth has not received any formal bid for the 28-year-old, while Juventus and Barcelona have expressed interest in his services.
Senesi may sign a pre-contract with a club outside England now, paving the way for a free move when his deal expires next summer.
The defender is in his fourth season with Bournemouth after arriving from Vitesse in 2022, having appeared in 111 matches in all competitions, and starting every league game this season except one in December due to suspension.
The defender's importance grew after a wave of defensive departures last summer: Elias Zabarny to Paris Saint-Germain, Dine Huisen to Real Madrid, and Milos Kirkiz to Liverpool, with reported combined sales around 104.5 million pounds.
Despite recruiting Pavodi Diakyti and Vilko Milosavljevic to bolster the back line, Senesi remains a cornerstone of Bournemouth's defense.
Earlier this month Bournemouth lost striker Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City for 62.5 million pounds, a club record and a reminder that their market is active and ambitious.
Meanwhile Chelsea are focused on signing the young French defender Jerem ie Jacke from Rennes after the player expressed his desire to move to the Blues. Rennes had hoped to keep him until season end while pursuing European ambitions, but value him at more than 55.5 million pounds, the record fee Manchester City paid for Jeremy Doku in 2023.
Punchlines: If this transfer saga were a sniper, it would shoot first and ask for a contract later. And if patience were a transfer fee, Bournemouth would be charging interest in train tickets.
