Chelsea are said to be considering a move for talented Hungarian attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who was previously a transfer target for Arsenal. The Blues technical director Christopher Vivell is a big fan of the RB Leipzig star, as Ben Jacobs reports.
Vivell was largely responsible for bringing the Hungarian international to Leipzig after the pair had previously worked together at RB Salzburg, and that link could place Chelsea at the front of a long queue to claim the 22-year-old’s signature. Despite Vivell’s apparent admiration for Szoboszlai, it may not prove the ideal fit for Graham Potter’s side, who have only recently enhanced their options in this area following the expensive captures of Mykhaylo Mudryk and Noni Madueke.
The priority for this summer will likely be other positions, most notably being a defensive midfielder, but Vivell’s interest could make this one to watch further down the line. “Dominik Szoboszlai has been periodically linked with a variety of top Premier League clubs. Chelsea are the latest,” Jacobs said.
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“And it’s true they have sent scouts to watch him. Chelsea’s technical director Christopher Vivell is a big fan and knows him well from his own time at Leipzig.
“There’s no guarantee Leipzig will sell this summer unless the release clause is triggered. Szoboszlai is contracted until 2026.
Prior to his move to Leipzig, Szoboszlai was linked to a move to Arsenal before being transferred for significantly more money than early valuations. The Gunners went in hard for the Hungarian superstar towards the end of 2020, before Leipzig came in with a strong bid and the attacking midfielder decided to move to Germany.
Since then, interest in his services has only increased, with both Atletico Madrid and Newcastle United also reportedly keen. This season, he has made 21 appearances in the German Bundesliga, racking up four goals and eight assists.
Chelsea may have been given a boost in the race to sign him, after it was also reported that Szoboszlai has been speaking to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland about life in England. The pair played at RB Salzburg together, and Jacobs reported: “I am told Szoboszlai has spoken in some detail about life in England to his close friend Erling Haaland, who he was at Salzburg with. They FaceTime still.”
Szoboszlai is an extremely versatile footballer, which makes him a particularly attractive proposition. However, Chelsea are inundated with attacking midfield options, and the fact he can play left-wing won't be helped by the January signing of Mudryk, and well as Raheem Sterling who is deemed very important to Todd Boehly's project.
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