Chelsea Submit £17.5m Bid For Arsenal Target, Agent Says Deal Will Be Agreed Soon

With the summer transfer window in full swing, managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads ahead of next season so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Chelsea close in on Baba Rahman….

Chelsea have tabled a £17.5m bid for Arsenal target Baba Rahman and the player’s agent has confirmed a deal with Augsburg should be finalised soon, according to the Guardian.

Jose Mourinho confirmed to the media at his pre-match press conference yesterday ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal that he’s trying to buy another left-back this summer.

With Filipe Luis sold back to Atletico Madrid last week, Mourinho has just one senior left-back in Cesar Azpilicueta so needs another established full-back to compete with the Spaniard this coming campaign.

The Portuguese coach is quoted as saying by the Guardian:

“We are trying to sign a left-back. We have only one [César Azpilicueta]. We are trying.”

Several names have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in recent months but Rahman has emerged as the prime target with the Guardian reporting at the start of July that Chelsea and Arsenal were among the clubs who had made contact with Augsburg to express their interest.

It appears with Luis now sold, Mourinho has stepped-up his interest in the Ghanaian international with the newspaper claiming today that a £17.5m offer has been put on the table.

The Guardian state that Chelsea’s bid includes various additional add ons but Augsburg are expected to agree a deal as they’ll make a significant profit on the £1m they paid for the 21-year-old just 12 months ago.

Rahman’s agent has also confirmed to the paper that talks are on-going but he expects a deal to be finalised shortly. Sascha Empacher told Guardian sport.

“Both clubs are still working on fine-tuning but we hope the agreement will be finalised soon,”

So it looks like Chelsea are now closing-in on Rahman’s signature and if he does complete a move to West London, he’ll become Mourinho’s third major signing of the summer following the arrivals of Asmir Begovic and Radamel Falcao.

Chelsea were first alerted to the youngster’s potential by former manager, Avram Grant – who now coaches Ghana – and Rahman enhanced his reputation after putting in some excellent performances for Augsburg last season following his move from Greuther Fürth.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news

It appears Arsenal haven’t followed up on their initial interest and while there is still time for Arsene Wenger to try and hijack Chelsea’s move, I expect the full-back to complete a switch to Stamford Bridge soon.

The Gunners already have two established left-backs in Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal so I personally don’t think Wenger will spend around £17.5m on another, so Chelsea should be in the clear to wrap-up a deal for the highly-rated Rahman over the coming days.