Chelsea were in pole position to sign Karim Adeyemi back in 2018
According to Express, Chelsea failed to sign German star Karim Adeyemi a few years ago despite the player flying to London for the transfer meeting. Adeyemi, since the approach by the blues, has remained at the Austrian Bundesliga team, RB Salzburg.
Salzburg, over the recent years, have produced top-quality players like Erling Haaland, Naby Keita, and Patson Daka. Karim Adeyemi is the recent name who has garnered a lot of attention after his display for the German National team. The player, however, was close to joining the Blues back in 2018 but chose to continue his career at Salzburg.
Back in 2018, at just 16, Adeyemi was coming up through the ranks at SpVgg Unterhachin, a fourth-tier German club. That was before the player made the move to RB Salzburg that year. Chelsea, who were keen to sign the youngster, even flew him to London, but an agreement could not be reached. This has been explained by his club’s chairman Manfred Schwabl.
“In 2018 we received an inquiry from scout Chelsea. He had a contract with us at the time. Then his dad, my daughter, Karim and I flew over and went to see it at Chelsea. That was a really interesting experience and Karim also did well.
“But for us and parents it was clear that his steps to the island (England) at the age of 16 is still too big. Chelsea wanted him to join the academy, but we said we wanted Karim under our own wing.”
Fast forward three years from then; the scenario is pretty much the same after the German striker burst onto the scene with his performances at the club and in his recent international appearance. European clubs are now eyeing a move for the striker who is well aware of the attention he has on himself. Speaking to Sport1(h/t Express) the player said:
“First of all, it is important to me that I play regularly. My focus is currently on the Austrian league. I am very happy that I have so much time here. I am fully focused on the task in Salzburg.”
“Of course I dream of a Champions League win. But that’s not what I have in mind right now.”
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This summer, Chelsea went on to sign Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan and also secured a loan deal for Spanish midfielder Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid. Whether or not Chelsea will reignite their interest in Adeyemi and make a move for the young striker in the future remains to be seen. As of now, there is nothing to indicate anything in that direciton.