Chelsea have ‘internally dicussed’ the prospect of signing Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen as an alternative to Wesley Fofana.
The Blues have seen bids of £50m, £60m and £70m rejected for Fofana by Leicester, who are said to be holding out for an £80m bid.
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The 21-year-old has been jettisoned to the U23s by Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers after the centre-back failed to report for first-team training.
Asked if Fofana would be disappointed if he stays, Rodgers said earlier this week: “I’m not sure. It all depends on the player. You can’t always say for definite how it’s going to be.
“For some players when the window shuts it’s a good moment because they can totally focus on playing again and getting on with their careers.
“Some players may feel they have lost the opportunity of a dream. They may just never be the same so that’s always the danger.”
According to Sky Sports, it’s ‘touch and go’ whether Chelsea match Leicester’s asking price of £80m.
They are currently ‘discussing’ whether to increase the offer but the defender’s lack of senior international appearances and last season’s serious injury have given them to pause for thought.
And according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Pettenburg, Tabsoba – who’s valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt – has emerged as an alternative.
Pettenburg tweeted: ‘He‘s definitely on the list of #CFC and a possible transfer target in the future. He was discussed internally in the case that the transfer with #Fofana would fail.’
The 23-year-old centre-back has made 94 appearances for Leverkusen since his £18m move from Vitoria de Guimaraes in January 2020 and has 30 caps for Burkina Faso.
Tabsoba may have been brought up in talks with the Bundesliga side over their move for Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The academy graduate has told Chelsea he wants to leave this summer and he looks set to join Leverkusen on loan, with the two clubs currently discussing the inclusion of an option to buy.
Remaining in the mix as another alternative to Fofana is Manchester United club captain Harry Maguire.
Reports of interest from Chelsea came from nowhere over the weekend and the Evening Standard have doubled down, claiming the Blues may indeed ‘launch an audacious swoop’ for the England international before the end of the window.
The report adds that although United manager Erik ten…
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