Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton race to sign ‘best young full-back’ in top league
Chelsea are on the hunt for a right-back signing but face competition from Aston Villa and Brighton for one of their top targets.
Following their massive summer splurge, Enzo Maresca is still eager to improve his squad in the coming transfer windows.
Sources told Football Insider that Chelsea are working on a new centre-back signing given the array of injuries at the back.
Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo is an enticing option for Chelsea as they also aim to land a suitable right-back replacement to the frequently injury-ravaged Reece James.
Guela Doue on Chelsea’s radar as Aston Villa and Brighton aim to tempt him away from BlueCo
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the Blues will face a battle to fend off Premier League rivals for Guela Doue.
The 23-year-old is currently playing his football at Strasbourg, part of the BlueCo shared ownership which has constructed frequent pathways for players of either club to play in France or England.
Hailing from Stade Rennais, the Ivorian is rocketing his way up Ligue 1, quickly becoming one of the league’s finest defenders.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast over the three clubs’ interest in the number 22, I explained: “I’m sure it’s more than just Aston Villa that he’s caught the eye of.
“Doue’s had a very good time at Strasbourg. Impressed again last weekend [17 October] against the European champions PSG in that game as well and has established himself as one of the most promising young full-backs in Ligue 1 right now.
“Chelsea are also interested in him. You’ve got Brighton, they’ve been looking at him as well.
“So look, there’s going to be a host of clubs who’ll be keeping eyes on Doue’s progress at Strasbourg.”
Strasbourg fans unhappy over Chelsea pinching their stars as way out revealed
The likes of Ben Chilwell, Mamadou Sarr and Kendry Paez are all currently enjoying their football in France as part of the benefits of having multi-club ownership.
The Blues can send out their brightest stars to develop themselves before inevitably bringing them back to Stamford Bridge or selling them for a hefty fee.
Yet, fans of Les Bleu et Blanc are growing frustrated over the west London club’s constant meddling in their affairs given they hold significant control over their transfer policy.
Football finance expert Dan Plumley exclusively told Football Insider that the Strasbourg and Chelsea relationship is on FIFA and UEFA’s radar.
The only way out for Strasbourg would be if they managed to compete in the same European competition as the Blues, seeing a similar ownership shift witnessed with John Textor with Crystal Palace and Lyon.