Chelsea are in contact with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Kerim Alaibegovic, transfer official Fabrizio Romano has said.
The Premier League giants have their sights firmly set on the highly-rated winger as part of a wider strategy to sign top young talent from across the continent.
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Fabrizio Romano provides Chelsea update on Kerim Alazibegovic
Fabrizio Romano gave the latest details on social media, confirming that active talks are taking place between Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen regarding the transfer of Alaibegovic.
“Chelsea have been in contact with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Kerim Alaibegovic and negotiations are ongoing,” Romano told X.
“Please understand that there will be no bid of £34m. Negotiations are currently on the low end and the Italian club is still involved in the race. Alaybegovic is yet to decide on his future, which the Italian club and Chelsea are keen on.”
Contrary to speculative reports suggesting a huge opening offer of £34 million had been made, Romano made it clear that negotiations continue to focus on the underlying structure.
Chelsea are believed to be favorites to sign him, but a number of other clubs, including some in Serie A, also maintain strong interest, leaving the decision unresolved amid increased interest from multiple clubs.
Who is Kerim Alajbegovic?
The 18-year-old winger is quickly emerging as one of the most intriguing players in European football.
Alaybegovic, who developed through the Bayer Leverkusen set-up, showed his immense potential during a productive spell at RB Salzburg, displaying impressive dribbling, creative vision and technical poise.
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His strong performances extended to the international stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina during the World Cup, where his sharp attacking style caught the attention of top scouts.
Alaybegovic, a two-legged talent who can play across the front line, fits Chelsea’s long-term team vision.
Manager Xabi Alonso is familiar with Leverkusen’s young pipeline and the Blues see Alaibegovic as an ideal addition to their dynamic attack.
As negotiations progress, Chelsea hope to beat out competition from their Italian rivals and complete the deal in the coming weeks.
