Chelsea appear to have their eye on the Bundesliga to fix their issues in defence and attack, with three of the division’s stars on their list.
That’s according to SportBILD, who report that Chelsea are among the suitors for Benjamin Sesko, Castello Lukeba and Piero Hincapié.
First up front, with the newspaper reporting that Sesko has a gentleman’s agreement with Leipzig that he can leave in the summer for €70m.
This is not a fixed clause, though, and the German side are hoping that a bidding war breaks out between the suitors to drive that up to €100m at least.
There is every chance of that happening too as Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid, as well as Bayern Munich and AC Milan, have all been keeping an eye on Sesko lately.
Lukeba, meanwhile, is planning his own departure from Leipzig alongside his agents, with both seeing this summer as key.
He’s currently locked into a deal with the German side until October 2029 but that includes a €90m release clause. There is no fear that will deter the top clubs.
In fact the player and his advisors are eyeing a mega transfer this summer and know that Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all expressed their interest. The Premier League trio, including the Blues, are seen as the ‘other options’ to the Spanish giants, though.
Hincapié, meanwhile, is a long-term target for Chelsea, who wanted him in 2023 and still have him on their list.
SportBILD say that inquiries for the defender are ‘piling up’, as his ability to play comfortably on the left in a back three or four earns him credit.
He’ll cost slightly less than Lukeba at €70m, with that figure bandied around internally at Leipzig after the defender signing a new deal until 2029 before Christmas.
They would prefer not to lose the Ecuadorian and have resisted Chelsea and Tottenham in 2023 before treating Atlético Madrid the same way last summer.
There’s always a danger a club can put an irrefutable offer on the table, though, and Chelsea may be that club as they eye him, Lukeba and Sesko ahead of the summer.
