Chelsea would have to pay a gigantic transfer fee to sign one of their targets from a rival Premier League club.
Recent history proves that Chelsea are willing to dig deep into their pockets to sign players. For instance, current Blues midfielders Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez each cost over £100m.
It’s been claimed that Chelsea believe they can afford a major striker when it comes to the summer transfer window at the end of the season.
A lot of investment has gone into assembling this current Blues squad across recent windows, so how much more is needed to fill all the pieces of the jigsaw?
Brighton put £100m price tag on Chelsea target Carlos Baleba
According to talkSPORT, Brighton are now valuing both of their stars Carlos Baleba and Joao Pedro at £100m to fend off potential suitors.
It is understood that Seagulls defensive midfielder Baleba, 21, is touted as the next future star to leave the Amex Stadium. Apparently, he’s been scouted by numerous top clubs, including Chelsea.
However, the report explains that Brighton are now under no financial pressure to sell, largely down to a record turnover of £222.4m for the 2023/24 season. It is explained that a large portion of that was down to selling Caicedo to Chelsea for a mammoth £115m fee.
Chelsea enquired about Brighton’s Baleba in January but were met with a firm rejection.
It was previously reported that Chelsea could revisit Baleba this summer, along with Manchester City. It looks like any transfer will come at a premium, though.
Do Chelsea need Carlos Baleba
While Baleba looks destined for huge things, Chelsea would be crazy to go after him this summer.
The reality is that the Blues are stacked in the centre of the park, and Chelsea’s midfield depth for next season looks incredible. Andrey Santos an Dario Essguo will join the likes of Caicedo, Fernandez and Romeo Lavia.
In contrast, Enzo Maresca’s side sometimes look fragile at the back, so a new goalkeeper and central defender would be a huge boost. Similarly, they’re crying out for a proven goalscorer to lead the line as the striker.