Chelsea
Xabi Alonso believes that a €40m transfer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Kerim Alajbegovic is a bargain for Chelsea, even despite that high figure.
SportBILD cover the player today. He’s set to become the most expensive 18-year-old to leave the Bundesliga, with Chelsea pushing for his signature.
Chelsea make their move
The newspaper explains that it is now clear that Kerim Alajbegovic will be leaving. He needs to choose between Chelsea and Juventus, who are both ready to pay big.
The Bosnian doesn’t want to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. It’s been made clear he would be a challenger, not a starter, this season, and he has now expressed a desire to leave.
He will be the most expensive 18-year-old ever sold by a German club. He is also the most expensive Bundesliga player never to have actually played a match in the Bundesliga.
Chelsea sounded out the situation earlier this year. Now they’ve firmed up their interest after Alajbegovic continued to deliver.
Alonso message
Xabi Alonso then got involved in the situation at the end of this month. He contacted both Leverkusen and the player to discuss a deal. According to SportBILD, he sees no issue paying €40m for Alajbegovic this summer.
That’s even despite him not envisioning a place in the squad for the 18-year-old at this moment in time. He’s already told Alajbegovic that a loan to another club could be an option this year.
But the Chelsea manager wants to secure him anyway. He knows one thing, Alajbegovic is not going to get cheaper. Even if his development slowed down over the coming years, he would not be sold for less. If the plan works out, he has a new superstar on his hands. In other words, he thinks Chelsea paying €40m is a bargain.
Now they’re waiting for Alajbegovic to make a decision. It’s the Blues or Juventus, but Alonso has staked his claim, nonetheless.