Transfer News: Chelsea are set to battle it out for Jonathan Clauss . (FEP/Panoramic)
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea will battle it out for RC Lens wing-back Jonathan Clauss this summer. Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Marseille are all in contention for the right-back and should provide Chelsea with enough competition.
The Blues are said to have been monitoring the player for over a year but Man United are now ready to rival Chelsea for the 29-year-old’s signature. Both the clubs admire the Frenchman who is valued at a bargain price of £8 million. But, either side will make a move only if they sell first.
Clauss has exploded onto the scene in the last two years after moving to French side Lens from German side Arminia Bielefeld in 2020. He was fantastic last season as he scored five goals and notched up 11 assists in 37 league appearances, as he helped the Ligue 1 side finish seventh on the table.
Chelsea will be in the market for a right-wing back should captain Cesar Azpilicueta leave this summer. He has been tipped to depart for Barcelona with personal terms already agreed. Chelsea are seeking £7 million to part with their captain this summer.
Should Clauss join, he would most likely serve as a backup to Recce James. The French international can play as a right-winger and right-midfielder too apart from the right-back position. Such versatility is something Thomas Tuchel looks for in his players and it is not surprising that the Blues have shown interest in his services.
Tuchel has a job on his hands to fix the defensive hole left by the departure of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. The Blues are close to finalising a deal for Kalidou Koulibaly and have shown interest in Jules Kounde and Presnel Kimpembe. A move for Clauss will depend on whether Azpilicueta leaves or stays and hopefully, the situation will be resolved in the coming weeks.
Should Chelsea and United go head-to-head for the Frenchman, the Blues will hope to have an upper hand as they can offer Champions League to the player, something which United can’t. Also, the guarantee of challenging for silverware every season coupled with exposure to Champions League football could be enough to convince the player to join.
It remains to be seen what happens with the player. Chelsea fans will hope that their captain stays, but if he should depart, the Blues would be wise to hasten their pursuit of the Frenchman who is in much demand this summer.
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