Chelsea have been handed an intriguing summer transfer opportunity.
It feels like the finances of football grow more complex with each passing year.
Chelsea have been at the forefront of that complexity with how they have behaved in the market since the arrival of Todd Boehly and BlueCo.
But it’s a German side who have reportedly negotiated a rather unusual release clause that gives seven clubs the chance to sign one of their star players — Chelsea being one of them.
Serhou Guirassy celebrates a goal for Borussia Dortmund.
Photo by Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
Borussia Dortmund’s unorthodox release clause for Serhou Guirassy
Serhou Guirassy has been quietly excellent since returning to the Bundesliga in 2022.
The Guinea international has 49 league goals in his last two league campaigns, and is continuing that form this season with five in ten games.
Chelsea considered signing Guirassy before he landed in Dortmund, and they now have a chance to go back in for the 29-year-old.
Florian Plettenberg (via X) has identified Guirassy as one to watch for the summer, as well as discussing his £45 million release clause.
He writes: “29-year-old top striker [Guirassy] is understood to have a release clause that should be at “only” around €50 million. It applies to seven top clubs: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.”
Some familiar company for the Blues, who have had many a transfer battle with the sides mentioned.
Chelsea’s striker situation is getting messy
£45 million for a Champions League Golden Boot winner is pretty reasonable.
Chelsea are pushing for a Premier League title, and goal scorers are needed to win titles. Guirassy has an impressive track record of finding the net and doing so with efficiency rivalling the very best centre-forwards.
But there are already too many strikers at or coming to Stamford Bridge next summer. Emanuel Emegha (22) is Chelsea’s new signing from Strasbourg. Dastan Satpayev (17) is set to join the ranks as well, and Chelsea just signed two new strikers last summer in Liam Delap (22) and Joao Pedro (24).
How many goals will Emanuel Emegha score for Chelsea next season?
Emanuel Emegha reacts during Strasbourg vs Marseille
Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
That’s a young roster, albeit in keeping with Chelsea’s overall transfer strategy. Pedro can be separated as a different profile of forward, but the out-and-out strikers haven’t got the experience needed to compete at the very highest level.
Delap looks like he could take up that mantle, but we need to see more from him. If he can raise his level and prove himself as a reliable, consistent 20-goal centre forward, brilliant. If not, there’s a pretty tasty offer on the table.