Marina Granovskaia has solved Thomas Tuchel’s Timo Werner transfer dilemma as the Chelsea transfer chief plots the Blues’ next major signing.
Chelsea have emerged as the front-runners to seal the services of RB Salzburg striker Karim Adeyemi, according to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato (via Fichajes).
The report claims that the west Londoners, who are joined by a host of European royalty in the transfer pursuit, have edged ahead in the race to win the 19-year-old’s signature.
Calcio Mercato adds that Chelsea have already made contact with the young striker’s relevant representatives over a potential deal in the summer, and the Blues’ swift approach could hint at Werner’s future at Stamford Bridge.
Werner, who is a similar profile player to Adeyemi, has been unable to register the minutes he’d like under Tuchel at Chelsea which has left him questioning his future.
Earlier this season, the Blues’ £47 million signing from RB Leipzig spoke to the Daily Mail about his dissatisfaction with the amount of game time he has had under his fellow countryman.
“I would like to enjoy more minutes, so I give my best in training,” he said. “I can’t be satisfied if I don’t play. Of course, I want to be a regular in a big team.
“But I’m not saying that if I don’t start 10 or 15 games before Christmas, I really want to leave.”
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The 25-year-old striker has started just one game for Chelsea since the start of October, but it has been an injury forcing him out of action as opposed to Tuchel’s selection choices.
A club looking to pounce on the January domino effect is Barcelona who are considering the signing of Werner on a loan until the end of the season, according to Spanish outlet Marca.
Whilst the German’s potential Camp Nou switch may not hand Granovskaia a windfall to bolster the Blues’ efforts of meeting Salzburg’s £25.5 million and £34 million asking price, Tuchel can be confident that Adeyemi would have an instant impact.
(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
The quick and direct youngster has directly contributed towards 17 goals already this season for the Austrian side; four of which have come in the Champions League against Sevilla, VfL Wolfsburg and Ligue 1 champions Lille.
Adeyemi’s spectacular efforts so far this season has Joachim Löw grant him a senior debut for the German national team in which he marked with a goal.
However, while the Salzburg forward may prove to be the perfect solution to answering Tuchel’s demands of Werner, Chelsea may have to wait until the summer before the dotted line can be signed.
(Image: Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images)
Speaking to Sky Sports Austria, Salzburg’s sporting director Christoph Freund spoke on the youngster’s future, announcing that Adeyemi wouldn’t be leaving in January, unlike how Haaland, Takumi Minamino and Dominic Szoboszlai did so before him.
But, Chelsea has become renowned in recent years for having the master key to transfer negotiations – Granovskaia, one of football’s most powerful figures.
Whether it be squeezing £143 million for Eden Hazard who had just one year on his contract or recuperating the £60m paid for Alvaro Morata, the west London chief is a stern negotiator, leaving the door open to Chelsea’s January pursuit of Adeyemi.
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