Struggling Premier League giants Chelsea are showing no signs of stopping their free-spending happens under the new ownership consortium of Todd Boehly and Clarion Capital as the Blues are on the cusp of completing a deal for SL Benfica’s Argentine starlet Enzo Fernández.
In a deal that would see the club reach a total spending figure of £370m dating back to this summer’s transfer window, Chelsea is beginning to shift focus entirely when it comes to the profile of player added into the ranks at Stamford Bridge which began before the 2022-23 Premier League season, with talented youngsters now being the transfer focus in west London.
Deals for Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Gabriel Slonina, and Cesare Casadei highlighted showed a shift in focus that has been supported by the club’s actions in the winter window, with a completed deal on the books for Ivorian starlet David Datro Fofana and impending business for AS Monaco’s Benoît Badiashile in focus. But the Blues are also looking toward the future for further additions to the capital and have reportedly turned attention toward Yorkshire and Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier.
🚨Info: Illan Meslier 🇫🇷💫
▫️Impressionnant depuis plusieurs saisons avec Leeds, le gardien français intéresse plusieurs écuries pour l’été prochain dont Chelsea.
Avec @LucasBillard6 https://t.co/ZodmpB2Zi0
— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) January 3, 2023
Per Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna and Lucas Billard, Chelsea is one of a number of clubs that are eyeing the Lorient native and French U21 international who is once again having a fantastic individual campaign at Elland Road after making the fifth-most saves in the Premier League during the current 2022-23 season.
Though the completed deal for Slonina – a United States youth international – is already completed and the player back at MLS outfit Chicago Fire gaining valuable time on the pitch, the goalkeeping question at the club remains a frustrating one after former number one Édouard Mendy lost his place to former key shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who himself is hardly proving consistent enough for a club of Chelsea’s stature.
With Meslier one of France’s brightest young goalkeeping talents, a move to a bigger club that regularly features in continental competition could be vital for his national team chances with Les Bleus in the run-up to Euro 2024 and beyond, and should Chelsea test Leeds’ resolve, it would be a big ask of him to not depart for greener pastures.
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