Arsenal FC and Manchester City have joined Chelsea FC in the race for AFC Augsburg’s Ghanaian left back Abdul Baba Rahman as per reports in the Guardian.
The 20-year-old is coming of the back of an impressive campaign with Bundesliga side Augsburg with whom he was one of the key players, as they finished fifth in the league table and qualified for European competition for the first time.
It was reported last week that Chelsea FC were looking to sign Rahman with the London club making a 15 million Euro move for the Ghanaian international.
Chelsea are in the market for a new left back with the future of Felipe Luis coming under increased speculation. The 29-year-old Brazilian has failed to grab a regular place in the starting line-up since his arrival from Atletico Madrid. Jose Mourinho has preferred Cesar Azpilicueta over Luis in the left side of the defense with Branislav Ivanovic starting as the right back.
The Guardian reports says that Augsburg have slapped a 20 Million Euros price tag on the left back and Manchester City are now keeping tabs on his situation along with Arsenal FC.
The report said:
. Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal are among a stellar list of clubs to have registered an interest in signing Baba Rahman from the German side Augsburg, but they have been told the Ghana defender could cost up to a 20m (A?14m).
Manchester City are also keeping tabs on his situation as they search for a long-term solution to their problem left-back position, with neither Aleksandar Kolarov or Ga l Clichy having made the role his own.
Despite the presence of Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal in his squad, the Arsenal manager, ArsA?ne Wenger, has also been impressed by Rahman, who helped Augsburg finish fifth in the Bundesliga last season a the highest finish in the cluba s history.
However, Augsburga s sporting director Stefan Reuter insisted they wanted to hold on to a player who still has four years of his contract remaining having only joined the club last season.
a There is nothing concrete on our table with regard to Abdul Rahman Baba,a he told the German publication Kicker. a We are very happy to have him at our club, we are delighted he is playing for our club. We have been happy to hear him saying he feels great being with us.a
Rahman, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Thursday, returned to pre-season training this week having spent the close season in his homeland and is also linked with Roma, Juventus, Internazionale, and Atl tico Madrid but prefers a move to the Premier League as per the report.