Chelsea FC has reportedly engaged in discussions with Atletico Madrid for the potential signing of 20-year-old Spanish striker Samu Omorodion.
However, talks seem to have hit a roadblock as Atletico Madrid has discouraged further approaches from Chelsea after rejecting a proposed £34m move, inclusive of add-ons.
Omorodion has garnered attention for his impressive performance, scoring nine goals in 35 appearances last season while on loan at Deportivo Alaves. Atletico Madrid is keen to renew his contract, indicating their intent to retain the highly rated young striker.
Chelsea, known for their active pursuit of young talent, have also been exploring other attacking options. One of their targets is Aston Villa’s 20-year-old Colombian forward Jhon Duran.
Discussions around Duran have included the possibility of a swap deal involving Chelsea’s 22-year-old Dutch defender Ian Maatsen.
Another player on Chelsea’s radar is Stuttgart’s 28-year-old Guinea forward Serhou Guirassy, who has a release clause of approximately £15m active this summer.
In addition to their pursuit of new talent, Chelsea has been granted permission by Crystal Palace to hold talks with 22-year-old winger Michael Olise.
However, Chelsea faces competition from Newcastle and Bayern Munich for Olise, whose release clause is estimated to be around £60m. Any potential deal for Olise is expected to be complex due to various parties, including his former club Reading, Palace, and Olise himself, having stakes in the transfer.
Chelsea has already made moves in the transfer market, securing the signing of 26-year-old English defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham.
They are also closing in on a £29m deal for 17-year-old Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian, although he will not join until after his 18th birthday next summer.
The Blues’ pursuit of young talent and strategic transfer moves indicate their commitment to strengthening their squad for the upcoming season.