Transfer News: Chelsea are linked with Ibrahim Sangare
Thomas Tuchel has been looking for a long-term replacement for Jorginho and N’Golo Kante for some time now. And now Chelsea seems to have identified one such player in Ibrahim Sangare, according to Football.London.
The Blues have bought in only two midfielders this summer- Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka. The former has been sent to the development squad, while the latter is yet to make his debut for the club. Other options include Billy Gilmour and Conor Gallagher.
While Gallagher has been disappointing this season, Gilmour was just handed a squad number recently. The Scottish international faces a very uncertain time at the club. Fans have been demanding for a new midfielder for some time now, and Sangare could be the one.
The 24-year-old defensive midfielder is someone that the Blues could do with. With Kante out injured, there is no one who has been able to replace the Frenchman’s ability in the middle of the park. The last game against Southampton clearly showed the need for a defensive midfielder as Chelsea were unable to stop the Saints’ counter-attacks.
Sangare would fit such a bill perfectly. Tall and strongly built, the midfielder could be the natural replacement for Kante. However, it will not be easy to land him. According to Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink, PSV would prefer to keep the Ivory Coast international at the club.
This is despite the €35 million the midfielder has in his current contract which expires in 2027. Such a price could prove to be a bargain for a player like Sangare. It is surprising that Chelsea have not yet triggered that release clause.
With less than a day left before the transfer deadline day, Tuchel will be wise to bring in a midfielder. It is clear that the current back-ups are not good enough and a new face is needed. Should the Blues fail to bring in one, it could be a long season ahead for the fans.
More Chelsea News:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the verge of completing Chelsea move
- Frank Lampard hints at Everton stay for Chelsea target Anthony Gordon
- Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu will head out on loan to Spezia
Chelsea are also linked with a move for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez. He is another defensive midfielder sharing similar traits to that of Sangare. Whether the Blues were too late in their pursuit, we will know in a few hours.