Chelsea has made a first move toward a potential Premier League tussle with Arsenal for the acquisition of the highly rated Saint-Étienne striker, Djylian N’Guessan, according to French media.
The 17-year-old forward and France U20 national team player is seen as one of the brightest young talents in Ligue 1. N’Guessan, who recorded eight senior appearances for Saint-Étienne last year, obtained valuable playing time even though the club was battling a relegation situation, which they ultimately lost.
He was supposed to be the star player in Ligue 2 this year, but due to an unending contractual quarrel, N’Guessan has only made one appearance. The teenager, whose current contract runs until 2027, is said to be unwilling to sign an extension, which has made Saint-Étienne mull over a sale to avoid the scenario of them letting him go for free later on.
Reportedly, L’Équipe claims that Chelsea has made an initial proposal of €8 million, which the French side rejects. They are set to wait for an offer that would be closer to €12.5 million.
Arsenal and Brentford, on the other hand, are thought to be keeping a very close eye on the matter. Chelsea’s interest was in line with their youth-oriented recruitment strategy under BlueCo ownership, but whether the Blues will come back with a higher offer for N’Guessan is still unknown.
