Chelsea have now made contact with the agents of a "special" attacker, who's also being targeted by Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Blues looking to sign new attacker despite Pedro's fine form
Joao Pedro has proven to be a solid signing for the Blues, with the Brazilian grabbing his fifth Premier League goal of the season in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.
The former Brighton man was given the nod at centre-forward at St. James' Park, as Liam Delap remains sidelined due to a shoulder injury, but he has also regularly featured in the number 10 role, showcasing his versatility.
With Cole Palmer recently returning from injury, and scoring in the 2-0 victory against Everton earlier this month, Enzo Maresca appears to be well-stocked in attacking midfield, but the west Londoners are now stepping up their move for an up-and-coming talent.
That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Chelsea are now becoming increasingly keen on Genk star Konstantinos Karetsas, with the youngster likely to leave the Belgian club at some point in 2026.
konstantinos-karetsas
PSG and Bayern Munich are also in the race for Karetsas, so there could be fierce competition for his signature, but the Blues are now stepping up their approach, having told the 18-year-old's camp they want to bring him to west London.
The teenager is regarded as one of the world's best young talents, and he is capable of playing anywhere in the final third, although he has predominantly featured as an attacking midfielder throughout his career to date.
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The Blues have had a sit down with his representatives.
"Special" Karetsas could be exciting long-term addition for Chelsea
Lauded as "special" by scout Ben Mattinson, the Greek attacker is enjoying a very impressive campaign, which has earned very high praise from fellow scout Jacek Kulig.
The Genk-born maestro has shown a keen eye for setting up chances, amassing a very respectable 12 goals and assists in all competitions.
Competition Appearances Goal contributions
Jupiler Pro League 17 6
Europa League 6 3
Croky Cup 2 3
With the nine-time Greece international yet to prove himself in a major European league, an initial loan move to Strasbourg could make sense, should Chelsea manage to get a deal over the line.
That is because Maresca may find it difficult to involve Karetsas a lot to begin with, given that he already has Palmer and Pedro to choose from, but on a long-term basis, Karetsas could be a fantastic addition to the squad.