Lisandro Martinez was lucky not to receive a red card in the match between Manchester United and Chelsea. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Chelsea are interested in signing Werder Bremen’s Karim Koulibaly and will face competition from clubs such as Manchester United.
TEAMtalk reports that Chelsea have been monitoring the 19-year-old’s development and believe he could be a quality long-term signing and a big return.
The newspaper further reports that Chelsea are already in contract negotiations with the player, with the transfer fee likely to be around 40-50 million euros (about 40-43 million pounds). The German is an incredible talent with a bright future ahead of him, and the investment may be justified in the long run.
Xabi Alonso aims to add defensive quality to his team and believes the 19-year-old has what it takes to succeed in English football. Meanwhile, Manchester United could use further depth in their defense, with the 19-year-old potentially becoming a solid long-term replacement for Harry Maguire. Both Premier League clubs have the financial wherewithal to pay the defender’s asking price, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop.
The opportunity to play in the Premier League could be exciting for the young defender, but he will need to choose his next destination carefully. He should join a club where he plays regularly. Sitting on the bench at a big club will have a negative impact on his current development.
However, there are also rumors that Bremen want to keep the player for another season, or include a loan-back clause in any potential transfer this summer. It remains to be seen whether interested parties will accept the terms.
