Since fulfilling the £54 million (€60m/$68 m) release clause for Timo Werner at RB Leipzig, Chelsea is aggressively trying to secure the signing of Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell.
Neither Liverpool nor Manchester United was willing to pay that amount for the 24-year-old forward, enabling the Blues to close in ahead of next season on their second signature.
Before agreeing to move to Stamford Bridge, Manager Frank Lampard and defender Antonio Rudiger both spoke directly to Werner. At the end of the season, His agent Karlheinz Forster instructed Leipzig’s chiefs that his client was ready to move to west London.
After the £37m deal for Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech in February (€40m/$46m), the Blues’ spending is now up to a combined £91m ($114m) but Goal has learned that with the same energy as their latest two signings, Chilwell is being pursued.
Unlike the Werner and Ziyech deals, Chilwell ‘s deal is complicated because of the absence of a release clause. The club, therefore, needs to discuss a deal with Leicester to take him to Stamford Bridge next season.
In this regard, Manchester United ‘s deal for Harry Maguire has set a precedent and Chilwell will probably cost more than £80 m ($100 m). However, Leicester has not placed a price tag on its main asset which they plan to hold.
The end-of-season standings of the Premier League could still have an impact on negotiating positions as Leicester and Chelsea are well placed to qualify for the Champions League.
Chelsea may reignite interest in its former academy star and Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake beyond Chilwell. Chelsea sold Ake for £ 20 m ($25 m) to the Cherries in 2017 but added a £ 40 m ($50 m) buyback option that will expire this summer.
Chelsea will also look at offloading players this summer, selling Emerson Palmieri or Marcos Alonso to make way for a new left-back.
