CHELSEA IDENTIFY WESLEY FOFANA AS ANTONIO RUDIGER REPLACEMENT
CHELSEA IDENTIFY WESLEY FOFANA AS ANTONIO RUDIGER REPLACEMENT
Chelsea are eyeing a move for Leicester City centre-back Wesley Fofana as a potential replacement for wantaway defender Antonio Rudiger.
A recent report from Fichajes has shed some light on Chelsea’s plans to replace Antonio Rudiger. The reigning European champions are scouring multiple options across Europe as a potential replacement for the German international, who is expected to leave Stamford Bridge for free in the summer transfer window.
One of the two favoured options for coach Thomas Tuchel is Wesley Fofana. The Leicester City centre-back is regarded highly by the Chelsea hierarchy despite his ongoing struggles with injuries this season. The other name on the list is Jules Kounde, although the Blues are set for stiff competition from FC Barcelona.
A product of the Saint-Etienne youth academy, Fofana initially arrived in the Premier League in the summer of 2020, in an eye-catching €35 million move. The youngster was regarded as the most promising defensive talent in Ligue 1 at the time, alongside the likes of Loic Bade.
Over one and half years into his spell in England, Leicester’s well-calculated risk appears to have paid off brilliantly, as the 21-year-old has become one of the best young centre-backs in the Premier League. He has already racked up 38 competitive appearances with Leicester City, notably helping them win the FA Cup last season while forming an excellent partnership alongside Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans.
Fofana’s 2021/22 campaign has been marred by a serious injury he picked up in pre-season, and it has coincided with Leicester’s own defensive struggles. But that hasn’t deterred Chelsea, who are eyeing a move for a young centre-half capable of emerging as a long-term alternative for Rudiger.
As iterated earlier, the German international is set for a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer. His expiring contract has already made him an attractive target for Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, while Bayern Munich are involved in the equation as well.
Wesley Fofana, to that end, could prove to be a wise replacement for Rudiger. At the age of 21, the Frenchman has already proven his mettle at the highest level of football and has a bright future ahead of him. However, with Leicester being a direct rival of Chelsea, the young centre-back could cost a fortune in the summer.
The Foxes have reportedly quoted a sizable fee of €70 million in the past, which would make him almost as expensive as Kounde. Whether or not the reigning English champions are prepared to fork out such a massive fee for the central defender next summer remains to be seen.
