Chelsea are amongst the clubs chasing the signature of France U21 international Jonathan Ikone this summer.
According to Ligue 1 commentator David Crossan, the Blues are part of the Premier League fleet looking to acquire the midfielder’s services.
Although a transfer fee has not been named, Crossan has revealed Lille rejected a bid of €70million (£62.9m) for Ikone back in 2018. The 22-year-old’s current Transfermarkt value is £34.4m, however the French outfit could demand a lot more if they are to consider letting him leave.
[freshpress-poll id=”309579″]
Ikone has been involved in 11 goal contributions across all competitions this season, scoring four and assisting seven. His club record for Lille stands at seven goals and 17 assists overall (via Transfermarkt). The French youth international also enjoyed a brief stint with Paris Saint-Germain’s first team, where he made seven appearances.
Chelsea are on the look out for a new addition to their midfield, with Kai Havertz their biggest target ahead of next season (via Sky Sports). However, if Ikone’s asking price is friendlier than Bayer Leverkusen’s £90m price tag, they may reconsider their options.
Frank Lampard is still looking to add to his already impressive purchase history this summer, which includes Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner. A creative midfielder like Ikone could be an ideal addition to help support what is looking to be a frightening Chelsea attack.
[freshpress-quiz id=”307708″]
Crossan hasn’t declared any club has made an official move for the playmaker, but the Blues will need to fend off London rivals Spurs and also Newcastle. The Magpies could be looking to completely refurbish their team once their reported takeover develops, so an early bid could put Chelsea in the driving seat.
Should the Blues sign Jonathan Ikone this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
