Atletico Madrid have turned down a £42m offer from Chelsea for Spanish striker Samu Omorodion, according to reports.
Chelsea, having missed out on RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, have made Omorodion, 20, a top target this summer.
New manager Enzo Maresca is keen to strengthen his attacking options following Nicolas Jackson’s inconsistent first season at Stamford Bridge.
Jackson netted 17 goals in all games but got criticised a lot for missing a lot of shots and not scoring enough.
Atletico Madrid bought Omorodion from Granada last summer and loaned him to play with Alaves for the 2023-24 season.
Despite netting only eight goals in 34 La Liga games, Omorodion impressed Atletico enough to consider recalling him mid-season.
Atletico, however, are not under pressure to sell the young striker, who was named La Liga’s Player of the Month in February.
According to The Sun, they have rejected Chelsea’s £42m bid and would likely require an offer meeting his release clause, which is just under £70m.
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Atletico manager Diego Simeone expressed his belief in Omorodion’s potential last October, stating,
“You can see him evolving in the games we’ve followed involving Alaves.
He is a young player, strong, with excellent speed over long distances and a strong physical presence in the box.
We hope he performs well at Alaves because he has a future with Atletico.
He was with us for only a few days, but he appears humble and hardworking.” He will be an important player.”
Omorodion is expected to play for Spain at the Paris Olympics this summer before returning to Atletico and aiming to secure a spot in Simeone’s first team.
Chelsea have already completed four signings for the 2024-25 season, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Omari Kellyman.
Meanwhile, they have sold Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall, and Omari Hutchinson.
The Blues finished sixth in the Premier League last season, securing European qualification with a late surge.
Also Read: Lewis Hall Joins Newcastle United In £28m Deal From Chelsea
Despite this, they changed managers, appointing Maresca to replace Mauricio Pochettino.
Omorodion’s potential and Atletico’s firm stance highlight his value, making it challenging for Chelsea to secure the striker without significantly increasing their bid.
As the summer transfer window progresses, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will meet Atletico’s demands to bring the promising young talent to Stamford Bridge.
