Chelsea’s priority transfer target at centre-back is still Leicester City star Wesley Fofana, despite the links to Manchester United captain Harry Maguire.
That’s according to Fabrizio Romano in the latest edition of his exclusive CaughtOffside column, with the Italian transfer news guru explaining that Thomas Tuchel remains particularly keen on Fofana.
Romano is aware of speculation involving Maguire, but insists that all he’s heard from Chelsea is that Fofana remains their top priority in that area of the pitch.
The Blues could do with a top young defender like Fofana joining them this summer after the blow of both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leaving when their contracts expired at the end of last season.
A move for Maguire, meanwhile, would be a bit more surprising after his struggles at Man Utd, so perhaps he’ll only be considered as a last-minute Plan B if a deal cannot be completed for Fofana.
Addressing the speculation, Romano wrote: “I’ve been asked a lot about Harry Maguire and those links with Chelsea. My understanding is that, at the moment, Chelsea’s priority is Wesley Fofana. This is the only answer I’m getting from Chelsea during the weekend too, when asking about a new centre-back.
“One alternative idea on the list was Milan Skriniar but Inter Milan have taken him off the market – he is untouchable.
“Chelsea will resume negotiations with the intermediaries of the Fofana deal next week. The player wants Chelsea, there is a six-year contract almost ready in case the clubs find an agreement. The Frenchman remains Thomas Tuchel’s priority for the time being.”
Fofana missed Leicester’s game against Southampton yesterday, with Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers publicly admitting that he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play.
When asked about the decision by NBC Sports, Rodgers said, as quoted by the Daily Mirror: “One, a change in system and two, I mentioned in the week about coming into a Premier League game and maybe one or two players not being in the right frame of mind, you can’t carry them and certainly we can’t. So that’s the reason for the change.”
I am very disappointed in fofana, as a Leicester fan. He was taken in and welcomed by this club from a poor French league and put on enormous wages and given Europe’s best training facilities. He gets injured last season in a pre season friendly and spent most of last year out and was rehabilitated by club medical staff whilst still being paid. Fofana signed a 5 year deal with Leicester and has hardly kicked a ball either for us. No loyalty shown to Leicester fans or the club. He can go to Chelsea with pleasure and end up like Maguire at man utd,he is very injury prone also, so cherio fofana, you won’t be welcome back at the king power either we don’t need you.
Fofana is reacting like another Frenchman we had recently by the name of Mahrez. He threw his toys out of the pram when money comes calling.
Unfortunately we’re just a stepping stone that some players use at their convenience. Loyalty doesn’t even come into it.
Luckily Leicester still have the basis a very good squad , unfortunately they no longer have a manager capable of running it. He lost interest some time ago.
Kante and Ben Chiwell moved to Chelsea and won The Champions Leagues. don’t blame the lad
I can’t help but feel both Fofana & Tielemans are being taken for a ride by Chelsea and Arsenal! All the uncertainty has resulted in upsetting the status quo at Leicester – equally affecting the team performance and individual attitudes alike!
Chelsea & Arsenal need to put up or shut up – their approach and constant refusal to make appropriate decisions on the transfer of these players is totally unprofessional and bad for the game. These players would be better served staying at Leicester!
48 hours should be imposed on any subsequent transfer and players need to accept they’re not priorities at Chelsea or Arsenal.
Agreed BUT Danny Drinkwater thought the same and he went from an England International player to obscurity when he left Leicester to join Chelsea!
There is no guarantee Fofana & Tielemans will join Chilwell & Kante at that level!!