Chelsea are lining up a January bid for Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile, according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein.
The trusted journalist believes it is very likely that the Frenchman will move to Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks for a fee in the region of £30m:
🚨 EXCL: Chelsea working to sign left centre-back. Current priority Benoit Badiashile. Talks with Monaco over ~€35m deal. Other options for Jan/summer include Gvardiol (personals agreed last window but price too high), Ndicka, Hincapie @TheAthleticFC #CFC https://t.co/J3BYg8usil
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) December 24, 2022
Badiashile is a young left-footed centre-back, and it is believed that he is being targeted as a potential alternative to RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol. There has been a mixed reaction to the news among supporters on Twitter:
Smart business IMO we need at least 4 cbs which we will then have in Benoit Koulibaly Fofana Chalobah (not counting Silva because he will leave soon) he is a good alternative to Gvardiol who is to expensive.
— OmariSZN (@OmariSeaZN) December 24, 2022
He is raw, rather just use Colwill.
— Anton (@CFCcwc2022) December 24, 2022
The new Directors are working…
— Obinna Ochiagha (@obinna_ochiwar) December 24, 2022
we have Levi bro
— Ravi Sookdeo (@aravsookdeo) December 24, 2022
Thought we are only going for the best?!? Why back down from Gvardiol
— King Henry (@KingHenryAUS) December 24, 2022
I thought you believe in colwill?
Make it make sense😐
— KOSISOCHUKWU (@DonFlarex) December 24, 2022
We are just signing mid players for God's sake! 🤦🏼♂
— Trust (@_Trustt1) December 24, 2022
What does that mean for Colwill tho?
— Shelbz (@StrixlyCFC) December 24, 2022
As some fans have pointed out, it does put a cloud over the head of Levi Colwill. The 19-year-old is a similar age to Badiashile and also prefers to play on the left-hand side.
It is one thing going after a generational talent like Gvardiol who could be a mainstay of Chelsea’s defence for a decade, and it is quite another to sign a player like Badiashile who may not be much of an upgrade on Colwill.
