Chelsea have now hatched a plan to win the race for a "powerful" Paris Saint-Germain player, amid rival interest from fellow Premier League clubs, according to a report.
Blues stockpiling talented youngsters
Under BlueCo ownership, Chelsea have implemented a model of buying talented youngsters before shipping them out on loan to sister club Strasbourg or elsewhere, and it looks as though they are set to adopt a similar strategy in the summer transfer window.
The Blues have already sealed deals for Sporting CP duo Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda, with the latter recently helping the Portuguese side clinch the Liga Portugal title on a dramatic final day.
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Essugo, on the other hand, has spent the current campaign on loan at Las Palmas, whose relegation from La Liga has now been confirmed, but Chelsea will be happy their new signing has gained some experience in a major league, having made 25 league appearances this term.
Quenda is set to spend the 2025/26 season on loan at Sporting, while a number of other youngsters could follow a similar route to the likes of Djordje Petrovic, Andrey Santos and Diego Moreira by joining fellow BlueCo-owned club Strasbourg to develop their game.
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According to a report from Sports Zone (via Sport Witness), that is exactly the future plan for Paris Saint-Germain defender Axel Tape, should Chelsea be able to lure the 17-year-old to Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window.
The west Londoners are said to value Tape highly, and they have now hatched a plan to beat their Premier League rivals to his signature, with two other unnamed English clubs in the race for the youngster, who is set to be available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract.
Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen are in pole position for the defender as things stand, however, with the teenager planning to leave PSG this summer, despite the French club's eagerness to keep hold of him.
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"Powerful" Tape could be exciting long-term signing
Given his age, the Frenchman is yet to make a real name for himself at first-team level, featuring just twice in Ligue 1 during the 2024-25 campaign, but there are indications that he could go on to achieve big things.
Football scout Ben Mattinson singled out the starlet for praise on X back in April, saying: "When at CB, he’ll make powerful marauding runs through the middle third to break through the press."
Mattinson also goes on to describe the PSG ace as "physically strong in duels" and a "progressive passer through the lines", so there are clear signs that he could be a well-rounded modern-day centre-back.
As such, Tape could be an exciting long-term addition to the squad, but Chelsea should also look to bring in a centre-back capable of immediately slotting into the starting XI this summer, with Axel Disasi in talks to join Aston Villa.