Premier League giants Chelsea had grown increasingly desperate to sign a central defender in the latter days of the summer transfer window and ultimately brought back former Blue David Luiz. However, the club’s long term defensive target is reportedly 21-year-old Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule.
Chelsea re-signed 30-year-old Brazilian defender David Luiz from PSG on deadline day in an unexpected move that will have unpredictable results. However, the arrival of Luiz fails to address the long-term future of the Chelsea defence as he joins an ageing back line consisting of Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry and Gary Cahill.
Chelsea did attempt to sign promising young Italian centre-back Alessio Romagnoli from AC Milan, but it has now been revealed that they also made a bid for 21-year-old German centre-back Niklas Sule. The Blues were willing to pay €30 million for Sule, but he wasn’t willing to move at this stage of his career, according to German publication Bild.
“Yes, the interest was there,” the young defender’s agent Karlheinz Förster told Bild. “The English have made it clear that they will be interested next year as well.”
The report further quotes the player’s father Georg Sule as saying, “I think we should first go to a big club, if you are a great player. Niklas could earn more, but we aren’t looking at just making quick money, but on his career. If Niklas develops well, the money will come.”
Niklas Sule has been playing for Hoffenheim since joining as a 15-year-old in 2010. He made 33 appearances for Die Kraichgauer last season, as they narrowly avoided relegation from the Bundesliga. Despite the price-tag, it is improbable that Niklas Sule has a future in the Chelsea first team.
The Premier League giants follow a transfer policy whereby they usually recruit more experienced talent for the first team. Their youth policy on the other hand has drawn widespread criticism, as the Blues send an army of young players out on loan every summer. There are an astonishing 38 Blues’ players out on loan this season.
Sule’s performances last season don’t suggest that he would be the kind of addition the Chelsea squad needs. It is in fact most likely that this is yet another addition to the army of players that Chelsea send out on loan every year and hope to sell on for a profit.
