Chelsea scouts have listed Samuel Chukwueze as one of the forwards who might be able to inject fresh impetus into the club’s season, as head coach Frank Lampard prepares to start spending his £150m transfer budget.
The 20-year-old is the second Nigeria international to be linked with the Blues after Josh Maja.
The Blues are reportedly looking at Chukwueze, Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey,Wilfried Zaha as well as high-profile names such as Jadon Sancho, who is unlikely to be available in January according to a report on The Telegraph.
Strikers Timo Werner and Moussa Dembele are also on Chelsea’s radar, but the participation of their clubs in the last-16 of the Champions League would appear to make a January deal for either man difficult.
Werner and RB Leipzig have been drawn to face Tottenham Hotspur, while Dembele’s club, Lyon, must play against Juventus.
Chukwueze is a player Chelsea scouts are understood to admire. The Nigeria international finished last season with eight goals and has three this term.
Asked in the past about Chelsea, Chukwueze said, “I was supporting Chelsea. I used to support every team that featured a Nigerian. So my love for Chelsea then was because of Mikel.
“Maybe in the future, a movement is possible but right now my attention is on Villarreal. I want to focus well on my club and gain more confidence. Maybe when the time is ripe, I can move.”
Chelsea were on Monday drawn to face Bayern Munich in the last-16 of the Champions League and Lampard wants to reinforce his squad before that tie after the club’s transfer ban was cut to one window, which they have already served.
Credit: punchng.com
