Chelsea slap £25m price tag on Trevoh Chalobah amid interest this summer
Chelsea will demand £25 million for versatile defender Trevoh Chalobah this summer, according to The Telegraph.
The Blues have sanctioned a sale of the dependable England youth international to help with their financial standings.
The Blues are at risk of breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) next season and want to offload homegrown products to balance their books.
Chelsea are reportedly open to offers for academy graduates Chalobah, Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja, and Ian Maatsen.
Chalobah was made available for the same price last year and attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, and Nottingham Forest.
However, the 24-year-old rebuffed Forest’s advances and remains determined to play for a club competing in Europe.
A potential move to Bayern fell through last summer as they opted for Eric Dier instead, while Spurs are still in the market for a central defender.
Chelsea’s valuation acknowledges Chalobah’s impressive performances since returning from injury in February.
The English defender played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s unbeaten run in their final five league games, which secured European qualification. He even found the net in their win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.
Chalobah’s versatility is another asset, having slotted in at both centre-back and right-back throughout the season.
Despite not being the most fancy option, Chalobah has consistently impressed under various managers – Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel, and now Mauricio Pochettino.
He has a contract until 2028 and has shown he is ready to fight for his spot when the chips are down.
However, with limited first-team opportunities seemingly on the horizon amid stiff competition from returning Wesley Fofana and Axel Disasi, a summer exit could be on the cards if Chelsea receive a suitable offer.
Although letting Chalobah go at this juncture would be a silly decision. He has finally found his footing at Chelsea, showcasing his defensive solidity and taking up the leadership mantle.
At 24, he’s entering his prime years, and his recent performances suggest he is a player on an upward trajectory. There is no reason to sell him now.
Also, he is a much better defender than Disasi and more dependable than Fofana. Why is he the one on the chopping block?
It doesn’t make sense financially or from a sporting perspective. The club reportedly spent a hefty £29.1 million to sign 17-year-old Brazilian winger Estevao Willian, a player with limited senior experience.
Estevao’s potential is exciting, but proven Premier League quality like Chalobah offers a far more immediate return on investment.
The £25 million received from Chalobah’s sale might be tempting, but it is wiser keep this homegrown talent already contributing at the highest level. Keeping him is far more important than adding Estevao.
Letting Chalobah go just as he’s blossoming could be another short-sighted decision for the Blues, who have made too many of that kind of poor judgements over the past years.