Chelsea are interested in signing Hoffenheim’s Niklas Sule, reports Bild.
The Blues were linked to a number of defenders during the transfer window. Bild say Chelsea launched an attempt to sign Sule, and were also prepared to pay €30m for his services.
Sule’s agent Karlheinz Förster has confirmed to Bild there was interest from Chelsea.
He said: “Yes, there was interest,” before going on to add “The English have made it clear that their interest will remain valid next year.”
Sule has been at the Bundesliga club since 2010, and DFB’s sporting director Hansi Flick believes the 21-year-old should stay for another couple of years at Hoffenheim before taking the next step in his career.
He said: “I think it’s good that he is committed to Hoffenheim. He can also continue to develop, can mature more when he spends another one, two years.
“At 23 or 24, he can still take the next step. He has in Förster a consultant who can assess that.”
Sule made his debut for the German national team last month against Finland, and has another three years left on his contract at Hoffenheim.
