Chelsea are one of three Premier League clubs monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins. Manchester United and Liverpool are also reportedly keeping an eye on the 22-year-old, who would only leave the club for around €35 million.
It should be noted that none of the clubs are in any concrete talks with Frankfurt. However, all three English clubs are in the scouting stage, and Collins was watched by scouts during Germany Under-21s’ match against Georgia.
Collins is a right-footed centre-back who can play as a right-back. His pace and physicality in one-on-one situations are what make him attractive. The defender moved to Frankfurt from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 and has played over 60 games for the club, scoring twice. He is contracted until June 2030, and Frankfurt have no intention of selling him in January.
Meanwhile, Maxence Lacroix suffered a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool at Anfield. It is a grade-three tear, and he is set to be sidelined until the new year. Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong have been doing the majority of the work while Jorrel Hato recovers from a back problem.
Collins’ versatility would be a good addition for Xabi Alonso, who has been fluctuating between playing in a back three and back four this season. Chelsea will also know the player well, having been linked with him as a teenager at Dortmund. However, any move seems more likely to happen in the summer.
Xabi Alonso Admits Maxence Lacroix Will Be “A Few Weeks Out” After Anfield Injury
The injury to Lacroix was the most severe of the three injuries suffered by Chelsea in the penalty shootout loss to Liverpool. Both Moises Caicedo and Malo Gusto were forced off. Lacroix exited the pitch in first-half stoppage time, holding the back of his thigh.
Alonso said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Manchester United clash:
“Max, he picked up an injury, and we expect that he’s not going to be ready before the international break. So he will be a few weeks out.”
Alonso was optimistic about how long Lacroix would be out for. However, other reports have claimed that the defender would be out for at least two months. Chelsea still managed to keep a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory over United.