Chelsea would look to bolster their defence during the summer transfer window and according to reports they have already set their eyes on the promising centre back.
Chelsea were left guessing after the deadline day decision of Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet to alter course towards Merseyside as he joined Liverpool for a transfer fee of £60 million.
According to sources, the Blues reportedly offered the same amount to the French defender. Still, it was Jeremy who decided to move to the defending Premier League Champions at the last moment.
Although the Blues have brought in Mamadou Sarr from RC Strasbourg, where he was on loan from Chelsea, the young centre-back's return does not change that. They are on the lookout for a defender after a series of poor performances from the backline this season.
As it seems, new manager Liam Rosenior is already on the quest to build his team for next season, as METRO reports that the Blues have shown interest in teenage talent Sedi Kinteh, who is currently playing for Norwegian side Tromso.
Chelsea eyeing move for promising centre back
The 19-year-old centre back has already turned quite a few eyeballs with his athleticism and pace as Manchester United are also keeping tabs on the youngster.
But for now, FC Basel is considered the Kinteh's most likely destination, with a move possible within the next couple of days. The Swiss transfer window does not close until February 16. Basel will likely look to cash in on the centre back in the upcoming summer with a higher transfer fee then.
Kinteh brilliantly fits Chelsea's current transfer policy of signing highly rated youngsters but if they succeed in bringing in the player during the summer, Rosenior would most probably have a tough time to give minutes his current central defenders like Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Josh Acheampong, Jorrel Hato and Axel Disasi and also Levi Colwill who is expected to return from his season long injury in June this year.
Despite the long list of centre backs present in Rosenior's armoury, the Blues have failed hold on to their exploits, the 2-2 draw against Leeds stands as a more recent example of this drawback in the current Chelsea squad.
Even if Chelsea can bring in Kinteh before the start of the 2026/27 season, he will need some time to settle into the more intensive style of the Premier League. Still, with the quality shown by the youngster in his first senior campaign, it won't be long till Kinteh becomes a regular starter for the Blues.
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