According to L’Equipe, Chelsea are reportedly interested in making a move for Montpellier striker Elye Wahi during the current summer transfer window.
The Blues have set their sights on acquiring the services of the centre-forward, who is valued at around €30 million. Their intention is to sign Wahi and then loan him to their sister club, Racing Strasbourg, for the upcoming season.
Recent discussions regarding a potential move for Wahi have been making progress, and Chelsea are expected to submit an offer soon.
While Atletico Madrid have also shown interest in the striker, they have not made as much headway in the pursuit as Chelsea.
Wahi had a breakthrough season with Montpellier in 2022/23, impressively scoring 19 goals and providing five assists in 33 Ligue 1 appearances, contributing to the team’s 12th-place finish.
The previous season, he netted ten goals and assisted two in 33 outings, helping Montpellier secure a 13th-place position.
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Chelsea are known for investing in promising young talents under the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital regime.
They have made significant financial commitments to sign players like Cesare Casadei, Andrey Santos, Kendry Paez, Angelo Gabriel, and Carney Chukwuemeka. Seeing Wahi’s growing reputation, the club is eager to take a chance on him as well.
Chelsea’s strategy of purchasing Strasbourg is aimed at providing game time and development opportunities for their young starlets, who may not be ready to contribute at the top level yet.
Patrick Vieira’s appointment as the new head coach further supports this approach, as he is known for nurturing and promoting young talents.
Wahi could be an exciting addition to Chelsea, and a successful stint at Strasbourg could save the club from spending big on another centre-forward.
Although the Blues signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal this summer, there are still doubts surrounding him, and many believe that Chelsea needs a top-quality striker.
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While Wahi may not be at that level currently, his development has been promising, and there is significant potential in him. The final decision now lies with the player on whether to accept Chelsea’s offer, which comes with some uncertainty.
In other transfer news, the Blues are reportedly eyeing Marc Guehi as a replacement for Wesley Fofana, who is sidelined for months due to ACL surgery. The club is considering Guehi as an option to fill the defensive gap.
Additionally, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to join Olympique Marseille for free as Chelsea have decided to let him leave without a transfer fee.
