Transfer Centre

Chelsea 'on brink of Elye Wahi signing'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 20 July 2023

Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of signing Montpellier HSC striker Elye Wahi, who will be loaned out to sister club Strasbourg for the upcoming campaign.

Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Montpellier HSC attacker Elye Wahi.

The 20-year-old was a shining light in La Paillade's 2022-23 season, coming up with 19 goals and six assists in 33 Ligue 1 outings to finish in the top 10 of the scoring charts.

Wahi was also involved in a memorable nine-goal thriller with Lyon in May, during which he scored four times in one game alongside Alexandre Lacazette, but his efforts were ultimately in vain as Montpellier lost 5-4.

Wahi had previously hit double figures in the 2021-22 campaign for Montpellier as well, and his total for the French club stands at 32 strikes and nine assists from 91 games in all tournaments.

The France Under-21 international is only under contract with Michel Der Zakarian's side for another two seasons, though, and his displays unsurprisingly caught the eye of Premier League clubs.

Chelsea's new manager Mauricio Pochettino during the press conference on July 7, 2023 © Reuters

Arsenal and Newcastle United were both said to have taken a liking to Wahi, but according to Foot Mercato, Chelsea are set to win the race for his services.

The report adds that Mauricio Pochettino's side are hopeful of wrapping up a deal to sign the striker in the coming days, and they plan to immediately loan him out to sister club Strasbourg.

The arrival of Patrick Vieira as Strasbourg's new head coach is also believed to be an attractive aspect for Wahi, although Inter Milan will remain in the race until the forward makes his final decision.

Wahi's arrival at Stamford Bridge will continue Chelsea's youth-driven recruitment drive, having already bolstered their attacking ranks with the captures of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku this summer.

Both men made their debuts in Wednesday's 5-0 thrashing of Wrexham in North Carolina, during which Nkunku came off the bench to score goal number four for Pochettino's team.

Chelsea celebrate scoring a goal against Wrexham on July 19, 2023. © Reuters

Angelo Gabriel and Diego Moreira have also penned contracts with Chelsea this summer, but David Datro Fofana has been loaned out to Union Berlin and will not be the only forward cut from the ranks.

Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic have both departed for Arsenal and AC Milan respectively, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is believed to be on the verge of joining Marseille on a free transfer.

Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi were also left out of Pochettino's USA squad as the trio seek imminent exits, and the former is now negotiating a switch to Juventus after snubbing a permanent return to Inter Milan.

Hudson-Odoi is also rumoured to be on Nottingham Forest and Fulham's radar, although Ziyech's future is in limbo after he failed a medical with Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr.

Chelsea are next in action on their USA Tour against Brighton & Hove Albion in Philadelphia on Saturday as part of the Premier League Summer Series.