Konrad Laimer of Leipzig in action against Liverpool. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
According to German outlet Bild (h/t Sun), Chelsea have joined their Premier League rivals Liverpool in the race to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer next summer.
Laimer is out of contract at Leipzig at the end of this season and has no intention of extending his stay. Hence, the Blues are hunting for an opportunity to sign on a free transfer.
Chelsea have already made a move to sign two Leipzig players – Christopher Nkunku and Josko Gvardiol. They have agreed to pay the money needed to get Nkunku and have agreed on a deal to sign him next summer, while the confidence is there that Gvardiol will come to Stamford Bridge too.
Laimer could potentially become the third signing from the German club next summer, which would be unprecedented, to say the least. Liverpool are in the race, while German champions Bayern Munich, who wanted to sign him this summer, are going to go for it again next summer.
But, Chelsea could have a trick up their sleeves with former Leipzig director Christopher Vivell joining them as a technical director following his sack from the German club after his meeting with the Blues.
Vivell could work as a convincing chief to help the club sign Laimer, fending off interest from the other two European heavyweights.
The 25-year-old Austrian international has been one of the finest midfielders in the Bundesliga for a couple of seasons now at the least. Given his age, he could only improve from here.
The former RB Salzburg man can play as a central midfielder, a defensive midfielder or as a right-back or right wing-back. He is an aggressive player off the ball, can pass it well and has an odd goal in him.
Chelsea could be in a situation where they would lose Jorginho and N’Golo Kante for free next summer as they are in the same contractual situation as Laimer. So, the club would be clever to get the Austrian for free and fill up one of the potential vacant central midfield positions.
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