Chelsea’s pursuit of a summer striker continues, but their focus appears to be more on the future rather than the immediate present, as evidenced by reported talks with Elye Wahi, a promising striker from the France U21 team.

Negotiations between Chelsea and Montpellier are underway, according to reliable sources such as L’Equipe and the Evening Standard. Montpellier is said to be seeking a fee in the region of €30m for the 20-year-old Wahi, who has already accumulated an impressive track record of nearly 100 senior professional appearances and 32 goals, including a remarkable tally of 19 goals last season. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive betting odds from Nextbet. 

Although Wahi hails from the same youth program that produced the talented N’Golo Kanté, he has not received the same level of attention as his peers. This relative obscurity might be attributed to a couple of off-field controversies and alleged incidents that have occurred in his young career thus far. In the event that Chelsea manages to secure his services, there are rumors that they could opt to loan him out to Strasbourg to further his development.

In addition to Chelsea, several other clubs have expressed an interest in Wahi. AFC Bournemouth, Lazio, and Eintracht Frankfurt are among the teams reportedly eyeing the young striker. The latter’s interest could be partly driven by Randal Kolo Muani’s impressive performances over the past season. Kolo Muani, who scored 23 goals in 45 appearances and earned a place in the France squad for the World Cup, has attracted attention from clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

PSG, a team known for its big-money signings, might be willing to meet Frankfurt’s hefty asking price of £80-100m for Kolo Muani. However, reports from L’Equipe suggest that Chelsea is also engaged in negotiations with the 24-year-old striker. Meanwhile, other clubs like Manchester United and Bayern Munich have been previously linked with Kolo Muani, although Bayern’s recent focus on securing Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur may redirect their attention elsewhere, potentially toward Kolo Muani himself.

The summer transfer market is rife with speculation and rumors, and it remains to be seen where both Elye Wahi and Randal Kolo Muani will ultimately end up. However, Chelsea’s reported talks with these talented young strikers demonstrate their intent to build for the future while also seeking immediate solutions to bolster their attacking options. As the negotiations unfold, football fans around the world eagerly await the final outcomes of these intriguing transfer sagas. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.