Chelsea makes January bid for French sensation Djylian N’guessan as response received
Chelsea has seemingly taken their first step in the January transfer window by making an offer for a highly regarded young winger, with BlueCo receiving a response. The Blues’ proactive youth-centric recruitment strategy shows no signs of letting up as the club persists in pursuing top teenage talents across Europe.
Enzo Maresca’s team is currently evaluating Eintracht Frankfurt’s Niko Ilicevic, a 15-year-old attacking midfielder touted as a “mega-talent,” who recently caught the eyes of scouts during a Youth League match against Barcelona. The German Under-16 international, who is already making waves in Frankfurt’s Under-19 setup at such a young age, has reportedly piqued the interest of clubs like Real Madrid, AC Milan, Tottenham, and Newcastle. However, Chelsea’s systematic approach places them in a favorable position to secure his signature. This pursuit aligns with the evident trend established since BlueCo’s acquisition.
Chelsea has clinched agreements for a range of promising talents in recent seasons, including Estevao Willian, Andrey Santos, Kendry Paez, and Dastan Satpaev, among others, while recently finalizing a deal for the 16-year-old Burkinabe star Muhammad Zongo. The approach aims to target players well ahead of their prime by providing long-term contracts that ensure both financial stability and ample development time. Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has publicly supported this model, asserting its effectiveness “very well” despite some criticism concerning team balance and a youth-heavy squad without sufficient experience.
“It appears the model is functioning and is functioning very well,” Zola stated on X. “I must commend Maresca for doing an incredible job, as he has provided the entire team with structure. Everyone knows their responsibilities. “And considering that we are currently competing without our best player, Cole Palmer due to injury, yet are still achieving strong performances and positive results, is quite remarkable.”
Currently, as reported by the French newspaper L’Equipe, Chelsea is setting its sights on yet another up-and-coming talent. Chelsea received a response after presenting an initial £7 million bid for Saint-Étienne sensation Djylian N’Guessan, with the Ligue 2 club seeking a minimum of £11 million for their 17-year-old prospect. The France Under-20 international marks Chelsea’s latest effort to tap into Saint-Étienne’s academy, following their £12.5 million acquisition of midfielder Mathis Amougou in February.
BlueCo, which owns both Chelsea and RC Strasbourg, took a similar path with Amougou, selling him to their French sister club shortly after signing him with a favorable buy-back clause. N’Guessan made headlines in January when he became Saint-Étienne’s youngest debutant since 1978 at only 16 years and four months old. L’Equipe has also labeled him as ‘one of the most promising players of his generation.’ He made eight appearances in Ligue 1 for Saint-Étienne during the previous season before the club faced relegation, showcasing significant talent that garnered attention in France’s Under-20 World Cup campaign in Chile. Nevertheless, tensions between the striker’s family and Saint-Étienne have escalated considerably.
N’Guessan has declined to extend his contract which runs until June 2027, despite multiple offers from the club’s ownership, Kilmer Sports Ventures. His father, Dany N’Guessan, a former professional who has vast experience in England, is reportedly advocating for a Premier League transfer as well. Arsenal and Brentford have shown interest, but Chelsea still stands out as the most tenacious contenders, and a January transfer for N’Guessan appears quite feasible.
Published: 2025-12-18 21:10:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
