Chelsea fans in the Football Transfer Tavern are asking ‘who?’ after the Daily Star revealed that they were keeping tabs on French Under-21 starlet Abdoulaye Doucoure.
The Rennes midfielder has attracted attention following promising performances for both club and country.
The Blues supposedly scouted him in Rennes’ most recent Ligue 1 clash with Caen after he started the game on the bench.
The 22-year-old midfielder came through Rennes’ youth ranks and made his debut for the club in 2012.
He was frustratingly injured in 2013 but since recovering from knee ligament damage, he has managed to make himself a first team regular.
Doucoure’s next move is vital in terms of his development and he could slip straight into Chelsea’s first team squad should Jose Mourinho choose to lose either Ramires or John Obi Mikel.
It is unlikely that Mourinho will lose both of the senior midfielders as he would like to still retain experience and depth in midfield.
Doucoure has previously said: “I’m a deep-lying playmaker. I try to make the team more solid by helping win the ball, and then when we have the ball I look to get forward and get in to positions from where I can score goals and set them up.”
