Chelsea Close On Baba Rahman

Chelsea Close On Baba Rahman

Chelsea are reportedly close on finalising a deal to bring Ghanaian defender Abdul Baba Rahman to the club after tabling a bid for Augsburg left-back of around £14m (with £6m add ons), which is said to have been accepted.

Rahman is set to join the Stamford Bridge club as a replacement for Filipe Luis, who spent just 1 year at Chelsea before rejoining Atletico Madrid. The Blues received around £15m for Luis, a fee which Chelsea were insistent on paying Augsburg for their left-back, but the Bundesliga stood firm with their man, and now it seems Chelsea have coughed up the extra cash.

Rahman has shown a big rise in his ability over the last season or so. Last season in particular, the defender made his name as one of the brightest left backs in the game. With his age as well, it would seem the Ghana international is more than capable of adapting to the English game early on.

It will be a tough ask for Rahman to budge Azpilicueta from the left back spot he currently occupies, but in time who knows how the youngster may progress.

Augsburg, who recorded their highest finish of fifth in the Bundesliga last season, completed the purchase of a replacement for Rahman last week in the form of Philipp Max from Karlsruhe.

“I would like to continue working with all players, but when you sign someone like Baba from the second division and he’s on Chelsea’s radar 12 months later, it does make the coaching staff proud,” said the Augsburg coach, Markus Weinzierl.

[Quote via the Guardian]