Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are reportedly considering a surprise summer move for Burnley utility man Maxwel Cornet.
According to a report by talkSPORT, Maxwel Cornet is the subject of interest from Chelsea over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The 25-year-old utility man has a release clause worth £17.5 million following Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League this past season.
Burnley’s long-standing, often inexplicable run in the Premier League ended in the 2021/22 season, with Sean Dyche’s reign at Turf Moor also culminating in the process. And the Clarets are in line to lose some of their best players after dropping down to the EFL Championship. One such player is Maxwel Cornet.
The Ivory Coast international was a rare shining light for Burnley this past season, amassing nine goals and two assists in 28 appearances across all competitions. But Cornet’s stint at Turf Moor will likely end after just one year, with clubs across the Premier League and abroad keen on signing him following the activation of a £17.5 million release clause. London giants Chelsea are among his prospective suitors.
The interest from Chelsea is surprising, even though they are scouring the market for attacking reinforcements in the summer transfer window. But Cornet could be a solution to the west London club’s simmering issues in the left wing-back berth.
Chelsea will likely lose Marcos Alonso in the summer transfer window, with Barcelona keen on signing the Spanish defender. And with Baba Rahman and Kenedy unlikely to feature in Thomas Tuchel’s plans, Chelsea will have to delve into the market for a left wing-back, bringing Cornet into the picture.
While the 25-year-old utility man primarily played in a strike partnership for Burnley, he excelled on the left flank during his spell with Lyon. So Cornet could be a handy addition to the first-team setup at Chelsea, with the player acting as a backup to first-choice left wing-back Ben Chilwell.
Chelsea might not have any qualms shelling out £17.5 million to secure the services of the Ivory Coast international either. But the presence of the attractive release clause will likely bring other suitors into the fray, with Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, and West Ham United hot on the heels of the Burnley utility man.
