Chelsea had made a stunning €100 million bid to sign Marquinhos in the summer, but it was rebuffed by Paris Saint-Germain.
A recent report from RMC Sport has revealed Chelsea’s interest in Marquinhos in the summer. The reigning European champions had even made an attempt to prise the defender away from Paris Saint-Germain, tabling an offer of around €100 million.
Unfortunately for them, the offer was immediately rebuffed by PSG as they consider him to be a key part of the club’s future. The player himself is happy with his life in Paris and wants to continue playing a vital role for Les Parisien, especially after the addition of star players like Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos.
Chelsea’s desire to sign Marquinhos in the summer is hardly surprising as they were in the market for a new centre-back. Jules Kounde was certainly the top target, having been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge throughout the summer.
However, the move fell apart during the deadline day with Sevilla holding out for a higher fee. It served as a massive blow for the Blues, who had offloaded Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma in the summer.
It left Thomas Tuchel with fewer options at the heart of the backline, although the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta have served the team well in the new season. Chelsea are even topping the Premier League table, after securing four clean sheets in the opening five matches.
Marquinhos, though, could have been a massive coup for the Blues this summer, as the team does require a new leader sooner rather than later. Thiago Silva’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and the same can be said for Rudiger, who has also appeared reluctant to pen a new deal at Stamford Bridge. It has already attracted the interest of top clubs across Europe including Real Madrid.
The addition of Marquinhos, in that regard, could have served as a major boost to Chelsea’s defensive department. The Brazilian offers a significant amount of experience at the highest level of football and is capable of emerging as a defensive leader in the camp.
But with the PSG star set to remain in France, Chelsea will have to set their sights on other alternatives. They have been linked with a move for Matthijs de Ligt but could face stiff competition from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Kounde, too, is another option but it remains to be seen whether Sevilla are willing to lower their valuation.