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Chelsea are very “interested” in signing Werder Bremen defender Karim Coulibaly, according to reports in the German media.
It was claimed last month that the Blues and Newcastle had been holding talks with Bremen about the 18-year-old, but Sky Sports Germany have now provided an update on the situation.
In addition to the two aforementioned teams, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli have also been scouting Coulibaly.
However, Liam Rosenior’s side appear to be most advanced in their pursuit of the player, having held discussions with his entourage.
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Coulibaly will cost a “mega sum”
The teenager is keen on leaving Werder Bremen this summer, but managing director Clemens Fritz is unwilling to part ways for a low transfer fee.
Sky report that he will demand a “mega sum” for Coulibaly, with an asking price set between €40m (£35m) and €50m (£44m).
That is a lot of money for a player who has only made 22 first-team appearances for Bremen, all of which have come this season.
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What do Chelsea fans need to know about the player?
Coulibaly had been through several youth academies – Bramfelder, SV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst and Hamburg – prior to joining Bremen on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.
It took him just over a year to make his first-team debut, coming on as a substitute for Niklas Stark in a 4-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt back in August.
Coulibaly scored on his first senior start during a 3-3 draw against Bayer Leverkusen just five days after his debut, and he has been regular starter for Bremen ever since.
While the centre-back was born in Germany, he is of Ivorian descent. He has (so far) chosen to play for the country of his birth, having made his debut for Germany’s Under 21s last month.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here