Chelsea face late competition from Eintracht Frankfurt for French starlet Elye Wahi

The 20-year-old bagged 19 goals during the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season and has been linked with a cadre of bigger sides across Europe’s top five leagues, including Arsenal.

By Andrew Thompson

August 04, 2023 at 5:14 pm GMT+1

Chelsea’s long-term transfer plans may have hit a snag surrounding the potential signing of French U21 starlet Elye Wahi after Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt is planning a push for the Montpellier striker.

The Blues, who have already had an initial bid for Wahi rejected by Montpellier earlier in the window, are still intent on sealing a seal for the Courcouronnes-born forward before redeploying him to newly acquired satellite club RC Strasbourg on loan for the 2023-24 league campaign.

But according to football insider Fabrizio Romano, Frankfurt is set to rekindle their interest in the player while viewing him as a long-term puzzle piece along the Rhine at Deutsche Bank Park.

Understand Eintracht Frankfurt are now pushing again to sign Elye Wahi 🔴🇫🇷

Chelsea had bid rejected by Montpellier but remain in the race with plan to loan Wahi to Strasbourg.

Eintracht, insisting with long term project around Wahi. pic.twitter.com/3olgGU3T3Q
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 4, 2023

The 20-year-old bagged 19 goals during the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season and has been linked with a cadre of bigger sides across Europe’s top five leagues, including Arsenal.

Though remaining in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg while on loan could certainly guarantee a softer landing spot to continue his development should he ultimately move to Chelsea, increased exposure and responsibility with Frankfurt in the Bundesliga is certainly a credible path for the youngster.

This could see him form an on-pitch relationship with full French international forward Randal Kolo Muani, which could lend weight to his possible inclusion into the senior French national side under Didier Deschamps for Euro 2024 next summer.

However, given the forward depth that currently exists in the senior setup under manager Dino Toppmöller, unless Kolo Muani is off-loaded this summer for a significant return on Frankfurt’s investment, Chelsea may yet ultimately be a better destination in terms of minutes on the pitch.