Chelsea remain interested in signing Lyon defender Castello Lukeba and the 20-year-old is reportedly in the process of changing agents in a bid to secure a big move at the end of the current season. The Blues are keen admirers of the France U21 international, who has made over 50 appearances for Lyon since breaking into the first-team picture as a teenager back in 2021.
He is now widely recognised as one of the best young defensive prospects in France and Lyon look on course to secure another substantial payday when they finally decide to sell Lukeba.
According to L’Equipe, Chelsea tried and failed with a bid worth in the region of £38million last year and now they could re-explore their interest at the end of the current campaign.
It’s understood Lukeba is in the process of switching agents which appears to indicate he is considering a transfer following his impressive rise to prominence in Ligue 1.
Lyon seem unlikely to qualify for European football next season and that could ultimately prove key to the player’s future.
Lukeba wants to shine at the highest level and the fact he has already received interest from the Premier League is something that could now turn his head following Lyon’s underwhelming season.
Should Lyon fail to even qualify for the Conference League, they will have to consider some summer sales before the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
That’s where Chelsea could enter the picture particularly as their squad is expected to be overhauled at the end of the season.
While the Blues have spent over £600m since the arrival of Todd Boehly, they remain defensively fragile and toothless in attack.
Manchester United have also been linked with the 20-year-old and it appears increasingly likely that he is destined to move onto bigger and better things.
His contract is not due to expire until the summer of 2025 meaning Lyon do still hold a strong bargaining position.
Chelsea have already invested heavily in their defence in the past few transfer windows but it remains clear their backline is still not up to scratch.
Thiago Silva is set to stay for another season after signing a one-year contract extension but he cannot go on forever and Chelsea need to continue investing in their future.
Wesley Fofana has had a frustrating personal season after suffering a number of notable injuries but now he is seeking to finish the campaign strongly.
Benoit Badiashile made an impressive start to life in west London but he was left out of the club’s Champions League squad and it has since proved damaging for his minutes in the Premier League.
Marc Cucurella has struggled to win over Chelsea supporters with his shaky performances and the same also applies to Kalidou Koulibaly, who has failed to replicate the same form he showed at Napoli.
Both signings were made by Thomas Tuchel and cost the Blues just under £100m last summer – providing a reminder that cash needs to be spent more wisely moving forward.
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