With only a few days remaining before the new Premier League season kicks off, Chelsea are scrambling in the transfer window with the hopes of signing a new player or two before visiting Everton this weekend for matchweek 1.
A center-back is high up on the priority list and after missing out on Jules Kounde to Barcelona, the Blues have shifted focus to none other than Wesley Fofana, a familiar name to English top-flight fans.
The Frenchman is a highly-rated defender who currently plies his trade at Leicester, racking up rave reviews since his arrival from St. Etienne back in 2020. While the Foxes aren't keen on selling the 21-year-old to the London giants, the player is reportedly keen on this deal and is pushing for a move.
According to Football London's chief Chelsea correspondent, Fofana wants to make the switch to Stamford Bridge and is pressuring the King Power Stadium side to agree to a deal, both internally and publicly – more on that later. Unfortunately for him, Brendan Rodgers' team wishes to keep ahold of the Frenchman.
Told Wesley Fofana is doing his bit internally – as well as externally, which you may have noticed – to put pressure on Leicester amid Chelsea's interest.
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) August 2, 2022
He's keen on a move to Stamford Bridge but Leicester adamant they do not want to sell this summer. Something's got to give.
Leicester are reportedly demanding £84M ($102.5M) for the starlet, which Todd Boehly and Co. aren't keen on paying. Tuchel's side, meanwhile, might offer Ruben Loftus-Cheek plus cash in an attempt to drive the price down.
And as mentioned earlier, Fofana appears to have put public pressure on the Foxes to sell with his recent social media activity. As pointed out by CBS Sports' Ben Jacobs, the center-back removed Leicester City from his Twitter bio despite still being under contract with the club.
Wesley Fofana just removed "Leicester City" from his bio
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 2, 2022
Wesley Fofana as taken Leicester City out of his Twitter bio. pic.twitter.com/0gVJDMI720
— Uber Chelsea FC (@UberCheIseaFC) August 2, 2022
Chelsea have other options on their list should they fail to reach a deal for the player, with Brighton's Marc Cucurella, Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar, and RB Leipzig's Joško Gvardiol all being on their radar.
A move for Cucurlla is advancing rapidly, with the Blues having already agreed personal terms with the Spaniard. The former Barcelona defender is a left-back but can play as a center-back in a back-three system, something Tuchel is likely to employ this season at Stamford Bridge.
