Trevoh Chalobah has an impressive list of European suitors and a timeframe on his exit has been revealed, though he’ll only leave in conjunction with a world record transfer, per a source.
Chelsea are pushing to sign Wesley Fofana as the final piece of their defensive puzzle. Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Levi Colwill and Emerson Palmieri have all left. Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella have arrived, but Thomas Tuchel still wants more.
Leicester’s Fofana is the man in their sights and three bids – the last of which totalled £70m – have all been rejected.
Leicester’s stance has been their French centre-half, 21, is not for sale. However, they’re understood to harbour fears Fofana could be distracted beyond the September 1 deadline if he’s forced to stay.
Fofana has already missed a day of first-team training. Manager Brendan Rodgers subsequently made him train with the Under 23s as punishment.
Regardless, the commonly held view is that Leicester will relent if their valuation of £85m is met.
That would represent a world record fee for a defender. The current mark is held by Harry Maguire who cost Man Utd £80m in 2019.
If Chelsea are ultimately able to sign Fofana, his arrival will have a direct consequence on Trevoh Chalobah.
The centre-half is available for loan, though only if Fofana arrives.
Trevoh Chalobah decision coming
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that stance, while also detailing when a decision will be made.
He tweeted both Chelsea and Chalobah are likely to reach a final decision ‘after Friday’. That could suggest the Blues will also reach a decision on Fofana around the same time, such as whether to bid higher or to abandon the chase.
If Chalobah does depart, he’ll certainly have an impressive list of suitors to choose from.
Romano added AC Milan could join local rivals Inter Milan as well as RB Leipzig in pursuing Chalobah.
Roma are also known to be in the mix, while 90min detailed the interest from England, claiming Leeds Utd, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Everton have all contacted Chalobah’s camp.
The Daily Mail report Tottenham and Aston Villa too are monitoring the situation. Clearly, Chalobah’s sporadic appearances at Stamford Bridge have made an impression on several scouting departments.
What if Fofana proves too expensive?
If Chelsea refuse to meet Leicester’s valuation, Chalobah may still depart. Indeed, the Blues are unlikely to not sign a centre-back at all just because they couldn’t land Fofana.
The Daily Mail revealed they’re keeping tabs on Brighton’s Adam Webster as an alternative. The Daily Express put Edmond Tapsoba in the frame.
The Bayer Leverkusen defender, 23, is on their radar and dialogue between the two clubs is already flowing on another matter.
Leverkusen have emerged as the likeliest candidate to snap up Callum Hudson-Odoi on loan. If Fofana remains at the King Power, a second deal between Chelsea and Leverkusen could take shape.