Maresca is still chasing new signingsplaceholder image
Maresca is still chasing new signings | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea are said to be chasing a Jamie Gittens alternative after falling short of Borussia Dortmund’s valuation.
Chelsea are said to be pursuing a talented young winger, and it’s not Borussia Dortmund wideman Jamie Gittens. Gittens may be on the Blues’ wishlist, but they have not managed to convince Borussia Dortmund to sell up to this point.
Chelsea have submitted a number of bids for Gittens, but Dortmund have refused to sell for less than their asking price, an asking price the London club don’t appear to want to meet. With Enzo Maresca needing a winger, the Blues might end up looking elsewhere, and The Athletic claim Olympique Lyon star Malick Fofana could be of interest.
The Belgium international has been impressing in France at age 20, scoring eight times in 45 league games from out wide. That form has earned Fofana a senior Belgium cap, and it’s now being claimed that Chelsea are taking notice.
David Ornstein wrote: “Chelsea have made a verbal enquiry for Lyon winger Malick Fofana. The Premier League club have made their interest known for the 20-year-old Belgium international. Fofana is among a number of options being considered and conversations are ongoing.”
Reports elsewhere claim Lyon will ask for around £42.6million to agree a sale. Interestingly, if the deal goes through, the winger would be Chelsea’s third Fofana on their books after Wesley Fofana and David Datro Fofana.
Malick Fofana was part of the Lyon team that blew a 4-2 lead against Manchester United to drop out of the Europa League in the season just gone. He said after that game: “I think that everyone is disappointed because we played a very good match but in the end, it wasn’t enough. I think we eased off a bit. We thought it was over but big matches are like that – they are never over. In the end, we have to expect more from ourselves, especially in matches like that. I think it is a match that I won’t forget,”
Chelsea exits likely
While Chelsea continue working on incomings, they are also said to be open to selling a number of players who spent last season out on loan. The same Athletic report adds: “The long list includes most of the players Chelsea loaned out last season — apart from Andrey Santos. So: Raheem Sterling, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Axel Disasi, Joao Felix, Alfie Gilchrist and Lesley Ugochukwu.
“A few of those Maresca has taken to America for the Club World Cup could also be sold. Christopher Nkunku is after a move, while Trevoh Chalobah and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall may want to pursue regular first-team football elsewhere.”
Few of those names will come as a surprise, although many Chelsea fans want to keep Trevoh Chalobah, who made a strong impact in the second half of the season just gone after returning early from a loan spell with Crystal Palace. Chalobah is likely to get a chance to continue impressing Maresca, but he may have bigger ambitions if the Blues sign a new centre-back as expected, with a new arrival likely to force him down the pecking order this summer.
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