Chelsea eye PSG star centre-back at cut-price

Chelsea have identified Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho as a transfer target for 2025 – while he would be available at a very low price.

Under Enzo Maresca, the London club are in third position in the Premier League table after 13 matches, a surprisingly strong start considering their frantic activity in the summer market.

Cole Palmer has continued his fine form and Nicolas Jackson has finally found his shooting boots. Meanwhile, the Blues’ defence has remained somewhat rigid.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

But the reports have remained in abundant. One read that they are reportedly ready to spend €150 million on Barcelona defensive duo Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo.

Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana have formed a promising partnership during the early weeks of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, but Chelsea are monitoring a number of different centre-backs, including Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah and Club Brugge’s Joel Orondez. It was reported recently that they are also interested in signing both Kounde and Araujo next year, according to TBR Football.

The Barcelona pair have been linked with a move to Chelsea for several seasons, with Kounde on the verge of joining the Blues before his transfer to Barcelona in 2022 and Araujo close to sealing a Stamford Bridge switch earlier this year.

Indeed, theere have been some names floating around but a surprising one has emerged from Spanish outlet Fichajes. The outlet says that Chelsea are admirers of Pacho, despite him being less than six months into a five-year contract at Parc des Princes.

Their outlet reads “PSG, for their part, are not considering letting go of a player who has been key in their system.

“However, an offer like the one Chelsea is preparing could force the Parisian club to reconsider their stance, especially if they consider that they can reinvest that amount in other areas of the team. Pacho, meanwhile, remains focused on his performance, undistracted by the rumours surrounding his future.”

Pacho on the move?

He signed over the summer for a fee that could rise to €45m and the 23-year-old has made a hugely impressive start since coming into the fold. He has made 15 starts and one substitute outing in all competitions, but even though it’s been such a short spell, Chelsea are looking to prise him away.

But they will do so with a very low-ball bid. It’s thought that they are prepared to shell out €60m for Pacho – an offer that will undoubtedly be knocked back.