Chelsea have “made an offer” of around €40m (£35m) for Trabzonspor midfielder Christ Inao Oulai, according to reports.
Africafoot claim that the Blues have tabled the highest bid for the Ivorian international, with Galatasaray and PSV Eindhoven having also shown interest.
It is believed that Galatasaray have made a proposal which is around half of what Chelsea are willing to pay for Oulai.
However, it appears neither offer will be accepted by Trabzonspor, who are said to be holding out for their €50m (£43m) asking price.
What do fans need to know about Oulai?
The 19-year-old is an energetic midfielder who is a capable ball carrier. He is equally comfortable playing in deep-lying positions as he is in more advanced roles due to his technical ability.
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However, Oulai is very limited in terms of experience. He only made his senior debut for Bastia in the French second tier last season, making 18 appearances before being snapped up by Trabzonspor last summer for €5.5m.
The Ivorian has taken to life in Turkey pretty quickly, scoring 2 goals and providing 3 assists in his first 11 games. He was also handed his first international cap back in November and played 4 times in the African Cup of Nations.
Chelsea are seeking a cheaper solution
It remains to be seen if reports about a bid for Oulai are accurate, but the Blues have been looking to strengthen their options in midfield.
Dario Essugo has picked up yet another injury, while Romeo Lavia is still not available for selection, having been sidelined for the last two and a half months.
An enquiry has been made about loaning Juventus’s Douglas Luiz. It is a complicated deal as the Brazilian is currently playing for Nottingham Forest, and they have an obligation to buy him for €25m (£22m) based on appearances. It may not be possible to get him out of the City Ground.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here