Chelsea are reportedly among a number of big clubs looking at AS Monaco attacking prodigy Malamine Efekele, who has drawn comparisons with PSG star Kylian Mbappe.
According to Foot Mercato, Chelsea are tracking AS Monaco attacker Malamine Efekele, who is considered “one of the greatest prospects of his generation.”
Efekele is yet to make his first-team debut for the Principality club, but he is already garnering interest from some top European clubs. The France Under-20 international has earned comparisons with France and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, who also came through the club’s prestigious La Diagonale academy.
The 19-year-old was even coached by Mbappe’s father, Wilfrid, while at Clairefontaine and also played for AS Bondy before joining AS Monaco. Those comparisons don’t tend to be helpful for younger players, but they show that he’s immensely talented and highly thought of at the club.
Naturally a winger who can also play through the middle as a central striker, the talented teenager continues to feature with Monaco’s Groupe Elite, where he has produced four goals and five assists, although he now trains regularly with the first-team squad. He has also made matchday squads but has yet to earn his debut in Rouge et Blanc.
🚨 AS Monaco’s Malamine Efekele, dubbed as ‘the next Kylian Mbappé’ is the subject of interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Chelsea.#CFC
(@DahbiaHattabi via @GFFN) pic.twitter.com/z20lCWJZOo
— Chelsea Dodgers (@TheBlueDodger) November 17, 2023
Efekele’s contract with Monaco doesn’t expire until the summer of 2025; however, he is now attracting interest from Chelsea, who could carry on their spending spree since the arrival of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital and move to land the youngster in the near future.
The Blues have moved to sign some of the best young talent in the world as part of an overarching strategy to assemble a super-talented teenage team below the first team that can step in and plug gaps when needed.
Technically gifted, lively, and promising, his talent and potential really make him an ideal fit for what Chelsea are trying to build under the tutelage of head coach Mauricio Pochettino. There’s no idea what the transfer fee will be at this point, but the report does confirm that the pensioners will look to sign him.
Valencia are also watching the prodigious talent, while several Bundesliga sides are pushing hardest to bring Efekele to Germany. Top-level Spanish and French clubs are also in the running, but Monaco are in complete control of the situation and are bracing themselves for crazy offers from suitors to land their prized asset’s signature.