Reports: Blues add 25-year-old PL star to summer wishlist

Chelsea are keen on adding Oleksandr Zincheko to their summer wishlist

Chelsea are keeping tabs on Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko. Triple-swoops are rare, especially in the Premier League, and even more unheard of when the two clubs in question are direct title rivals. 

Chelsea, however, seem keen on pulling off the audacious and are reportedly considering a move for the Etihad utility man this summer. The Blues are already in negotiations with City for Raheem Sterling, with a second bid being prepared after an initial offer was turned down. 

Chelsea also have eyes on Nathan Ake – a Cobham graduate, who Thomas Tuchel rates very highly and hence, a return to Stamford Bridge for the 27-year-old Dutchman seems very much on. 

Now Zinchenko has emerged as the latest City player to capture Chelsea’s interest, according to the Daily Mail. With the Citizens chasing Brighton’s Marc Cucurella, there is likely to be little resistance should the right offer arrive for Zinchenko to leave. 

With the Sterling deal now looking increasingly likely to go through, and with Todd Boehly requesting a valuation for Ake, it does seem unlikely that City will allow three players to make the jump to a direct rival. 

Exciting, but unlikely

Zinchenko’s ability to play both as an attacking midfielder and a left wingback is something which Tuchel will surely find useful. However, at this stage, a deal for the Ukrainian international seems unlikely. 

The Blues also have an ongoing business to conclude, so negotiations for Sterling and Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt are more of a priority at this point. 

There’s also Ben Chilwell, who has made the left wingback position his own and it will remain that way once he makes a full recovery from his dreadful cruciate ligament injury. 

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In that case, will Zinchenko settle for a squad-player role? If Cucurella arrives, he will still have that role to play at City, so why leave one trophy-winning juggernaut for another to essentially have the same reduced influence?  Lots to answer, and lots to find out in the days to come.