Chelsea’s search for a new centre-back is ongoing ahead of Monday’s deadline and having learnt of Rennes’ decision to keep Jeremy Jacquet until the summer, others are being pursued.
Centre-back has emerged as a priority this month after Chelsea attempted to accelerate summer plans to buy a new defender. They had done so with the hope of luring Jeremy Jacquet to Stamford Bridge.
Jacquet made his feelings known to Rennes, he wanted to join Chelsea. But Rennes have other ideas and have halted any exit for Jacquet until the summer. Chelsea will face Arsenal and Liverpool in the running.
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Rennes name Jeremy Jacquet price tag
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Meanwhile, there has been a decision to bring Aaron Anselmino back to the club after a loan with Dortmund. The Argentine is set to join Strasbourg, while Mamadou Sarr could reunite with Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea see £26m bid rejected for centre-back before deadline
But it isn’t just all about Anselmino, Sarr and Jacquet. Indeed, another young centre-back’s name has been thrown into the Chelsea centre-back merry-go-round and it is Nantes teenager Tylel Tati.
Nantes' Tylel Tati.
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Much like Jacquet, Tati has only broken into Nantes’ senior side over the last 12 months and while Jacquet has only managed little north of 30 appearances, France U18 international Tati is yet to make his 20th.
However, Chelsea’s talent spotters like the look of 18-year-old Tati. French newspaper L’Equipe report on Sunday afternoon that Chelsea have tabled an offer worth £26m, but Nantes have rejected the offer.
What Chelsea were planning to do with Tylel Tati, and what now?
Chelsea had made an offer to sign Tati with the thought of returning him to Nantes on loan for the rest of the season. But Nantes have decided to turn down the offer, aware that there are plenty of sides looking.
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Possibly, they are waiting until the summer window when they would be best-placed to replace Tati, and other clubs may pursue the teenage defender, leading to a bidding war. It shows Chelsea want signings.
Regardless of their plans for the summer and Jacquet, clearly Chelsea feel the need for reinforcements remains going into the final 24 hours of the window even if they were going to loan Tati back to Nantes.
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