Chelsea could conclude a deal with Leicester City for Wesley Fofana, with a price tag of close to €100 million quoted in the media.
According to Media Foot Marseille, Chelsea are closing in on top defensive target Wesley Fofana, with Leicester City set to loosen their stance for a fee closer to €100 million.
Brendan Rodgers used the pre-match press conference this week to reiterate his desire to keep Wesley Fofana at the club. The club took a firm stance regarding the 21-year-old defender, stating they were uninterested in letting him depart in this window.
Chelsea have been negotiating with Leicester for Fofana for a few weeks now but have been unable to find a breakthrough in talks. The Foxes even rejected their latest bid worth £70 million, but the Blues remain interested in bringing the Frenchman at all costs.
Chelsea were prepared to pay over £80 million to land Fofana. If such a bid gets accepted, it will break the transfer record for a central defender, which currently stands at the £80 million Manchester United paid the Foxes for Harry Maguire.
The report insists Chelsea are getting closer to finding an agreement with Leicester, with fees of over £84 million (€100 million) being discussed. The Foxes could relax their stance on the player if they are to receive such a massive figure.
Fofana has been keen to join Chelsea ever since their interest became apparent. The player will be eager for this saga to end and begin a new chapter at Stamford Bridge. His arrival could allow Thomas Tuchel to focus on attacking reinforcements as a new central striker is needed at Stamford Bridge.
When he joins the Blues, Fofana will become Chelsea’s third major defensive signing after the arrivals of Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly from Brighton and Napoli, respectively. The fact that Chelsea are willing to pay huge sums and possibly even smash the transfer record for a centre-back shows how much they value Fofana’s talents.
The sale could allow Leicester to make some moves in the transfer window, having signed no outfield player so far in the summer. Rodgers could target a few players who could strengthen other positions alongside a replacement for Fofana.