Chelsea keeping tabs on Bournemouth wonderkid

Tom Weber

• Updated: 12 Feb 2024 16:28 GMT
• 4 min read

Chelsea are interested in acquiring a new left-back, according to a report.

The Blues' squad-building is strange. After loaning Ian Maatsen to Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea are now in the market for a left-back, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. Before departing, the Dutchman signed a new deal with a release clause in the region of €40 million and he is not expected to return to Stamford Bridge, asserts Fabrizio Romano.

Rather than keeping Maatsen, Chelsea have decided to offload him and pursue a new left-sided defender. According to Jacobs, there are at least two players under consideration: Alphonso Davies and Milos Kerkez.

With Bayern star Davies, however, Chelsea accept the fact that he is very likely to join Real Madrid should the Bundesliga giants fail to agree a new deal with him. Liverpool and Man City are also interested in the Canadian, but they too are aware of his preference for the Spanish capital.

This leaves Kerkez as an intriguing option, though it appears unlikely that a deal will be pursued this year.

Kerkez one for the future

"Chelsea still also want a left-back and another centre-back," Jacobs told Si Phillips. "It’s true that Bayern’s Alphonso Davies is appreciated, although Real Madrid is his most likely destination if a new deal with Bayern isn’t agreed."

“Chelsea are also scouting Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, who has a big future ahead of him. Scouting doesn’t mean anything too concrete, and it’s not thought the club have made any determination yet on him. It’s probably more one for 2025 or beyond if he continues to develop.”

Kerkez signed for the Cherries in the summer of 2023 for €17.9m from Dutch side AZ. A former AC Milan youth product, the Hungarian has been a regular for Andoni Iraola's side in his first season of Premier League football, contributing one assist so far.

It could be a shrewd piece of business in the future. While data experts SciSports deem Kerkez a significantly worse player than Maatsen at this current stage of his career, the 20-year-old has a much higher ceiling than the 21-year-old Dutchman as he is already further ahead in terms of his development than his counterpart was at his age.