Chelsea attempted to hijack Bayer Leverkusen’s deal for Eliesse Ben Seghir on deadline day to reinforce their attack after Liam Delap’s injury. Despite their efforts, Ben Seghir remained committed to joining Leverkusen for £22 million. Chelsea will reassess their options in January.
In the frantic hours leading up to the summer transfer deadline, Chelsea made a bold attempt to hijack Bayer Leverkusen's deal for the highly-rated young talent, Eliesse Ben Seghir. According to reports from Foot Mercato, the Blues were determined to reinforce their attacking options and made a late push to secure the Moroccan's signature. However, their efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful, as Ben Seghir remained committed to his move to the Bundesliga side.
Chelsea's urgency in the transfer market stemmed from a significant setback: a long-term hamstring injury sustained by Liam Delap. Delap's injury left a void in the attacking ranks, prompting the club to explore potential replacements. Simultaneously, there was speculation surrounding the future of another promising youngster, Tyrique George, with Fulham reportedly interested in acquiring his services. The combination of Delap's injury and the potential departure of George left Chelsea needing to reinforce their attack.
With the clock ticking down on deadline day, Chelsea identified Ben Seghir as a prime target. The club made a late approach to Monaco, hoping to convince the attacker to change his mind and opt for a move to Stamford Bridge instead of Leverkusen. However, Ben Seghir had already made up his mind. Despite considering the proposal from Chelsea, he ultimately decided to stick with his original decision and join Bayer Leverkusen. The deal was reportedly worth £22 million.
The failed attempt to sign Ben Seghir means Chelsea will reassess their options in the upcoming transfer windows. With the summer window now closed, the club will take stock of their squad and evaluate their needs. The focus will now be on monitoring Delap's recovery. He is expected to return to action in November. If there are any further injury setbacks or if the team's performance does not meet expectations, Chelsea may consider making a forward signing in the January transfer window.
Chelsea's interest in Ben Seghir underscores the club's ambition to build a squad capable of competing for top honors. The Blues have invested heavily in young talent in recent transfer windows, and Ben Seghir was seen as another player with the potential to make a significant impact. His versatility, technical ability, and eye for goal made him an attractive target for Chelsea. While they were unable to secure his signature this time around, it is likely that the club will continue to monitor his progress and potentially make another move in the future.
The summer transfer window was a busy period for Chelsea, with several new players arriving at Stamford Bridge. However, the club also missed out on some of their key targets. The attempt to hijack Bayer Leverkusen's deal for Ben Seghir highlights the challenges that clubs face in the competitive transfer market. Despite their best efforts, Chelsea were unable to persuade the player to change his mind. They will now turn their attention to other targets as they look to strengthen their squad in the months ahead. The focus will be on integrating the new signings into the team and ensuring that they are ready to compete for a place in the starting lineup. With a long season ahead, Chelsea will need all of their players to be at their best if they are to achieve their goals.
The Blues will hope that the likes of Christopher Nkunku are fit when he returns from injury, with the goal-scoring burden currently falling on Nicolas Jackson, who has also been inconsistent in front of goal.