Chelsea are targeting Werder Bremen centre-back Karim Coulibaly, who has been described as a “rare gem” that any club would love to sign.
Numerous clubs have already registered their interest in Coulibaly, who can count on Real Madrid, Manchester United and PSG among his suitors as the summer approaches.
But Chelsea have stepped up their interest in the 18-year-old sensation and have been told that the defender will be moving on this summer.
Chelsea prepare Karim Coulibaly move
Sky Sport Deutschland transfer insider Florian Plettenberg reports on X: “Chelsea have entered the race for the 18-year-old talented centre-back Karim Coulibaly, who is seen as a top talent with huge potential. Chelsea are very impressed with his development.
“A summer move is 100% planned. Several top clubs are scouting him, including Real Madrid, Man Utd, Newcastle, PSG and Napoli.
“Werder Bremen are still hoping for a fee of €40-50m.”
Blues plot change of policy
Coulibaly has enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga, where he has already featured 22 times for Bremen. He has done so to an impressive standard, with his ball-playing qualities shining.
It comes as little surprise, then, that Chelsea would study such a player, even if the overall transfer policy of the Stamford Bridge side does suggest they will sign more experienced players this summer, particularly in defence.
Indeed, the London club has moved to assure senior figures Reece James and Marc Cucurella that they will be in the market for an experienced defender this summer. For all of Coulibaly’s potential, he does not fit the bill in this regard.
Indeed, SciSports’ Career Advice tool, which judges moves based on a wide variety of metrics including development, potential game time, playing style and formation, does not even see Chelsea as a particularly good match for Coulibaly. The Blues get a Club Fit score of 62, which is far smaller than PSG’s 75, for example.
The chief concerns are over game time and formation at Stamford Bridge.
Expert opinion: Coulibaly is a ‘rare gem’
Bundesliga expert Ronan Murphy told FootballTransfers of Coulibaly: “Karim Coulibaly is that rare gem that every team desires these days: a ball-playing left-footed centre-back. That’s why he’s already being linked with some of Europe’s top clubs even though he has not played all that many first-team matches. Teams are seeing what he can develop into rather than what he is now, with his ETV less than his asking price for that reason.
“In Coulibaly, Chelsea would be buying for the future, much like Man Utd did when they gambled on Leny Yoro. The €40m sale would be a record for Bremen, but for Chelsea, it’s just another transaction.
“Is he worth the risk? Maybe, but obviously there’s no guarantee on a player in his first season of senior football. He looks the real deal for Bremen, thanks to his confidence on the ball, his positional ability, and most of all, his passing range. The defensive aspects of his game are still raw and need refining, so there would always be the massive doubt whether somewhere like Chelsea is the right place to go next or if he would just be another transfer in a long line of transfers.”
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