Chelsea are set to miss out on Hoffenheim Niklas Sule with the 21-year-old set to join Bayern Munich in a €20 million deal.
German publication Bild have claimed that Bayern Munich are set to beat Chelsea to the signature of highly-rated and in-form Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule. The 21-year-old has been impressive in his displays in Bundesliga and it looks like he is set to earn a move to play for the iconic Bavarians.
The report iterates that Bayern Munich have agreed a €20 million fee with Hoffenheim for the transfer of the German centre-back but that nothing has yet been agreed in writing. Sule is also reportedly set to sign a five-year deal to play at the Allianz Arena.
Sule has risen through the youth ranks at Hoffenheim and has taken the Bundesliga by storm with his matured displays at the back. The player is an integral part of the back four of a club that is yet to taste defeat in the league this season.
Sule has played all but one of Hoffenheim’s 16 Bundesliga matches, scoring one goal. But it is his defensive solidity that has caught the attention of a host of top European clubs. But of late, it was billed as a two-way tussle with Chelsea and Bayern Munich vying for his signature.
Chelsea need young defensive reinforcements, with an ageing core of Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry at Stamford Bridge. Conte needs able cover for the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz, and Sule is able to fill both the criteria.
Bayern too, like Chelsea, have defensive options that are nearing the 30-age mark and Sule, who is well versed with the rigours of Bundesliga, would do well at the Allianz Arena. And it seems, he is heading that way.
The move is pending official confirmation and other things but if Bild is to be believed, Bayern have the deal wrapped up. It would be interesting to see if Sule slots straight into the lineup or is given the role of a squad player.
Chelsea have been linked with many central defenders and it looks they will have to look at the other options.
