Chelsea in fierce battle to signal Mainz centre-back Kacper Potulski

Chelsea have expressed curiosity in signing Mainz’s extremely rated centre-back Kacper Potulski, in keeping with Florian Plettenberg.

Potulski started his profession within the youth system at Lechia Gdańsk in northern Poland earlier than shifting to Legia Warsaw in 2021. After two years within the capital, Mainz secured his signature in the summertime of 2023.

The 18-year-old made a robust impression beneath former FSV head coach Bo Henriksen throughout pre-season and on the membership’s summer time coaching camp, although he was handed only one league begin throughout Henriksen’s tenure. Since Urs Fischer took cost in Rheinhessen, Potulski has featured extra prominently, making six additional Bundesliga appearances.

Throughout all competitions this season, Potulski has made 18 appearances, registering one purpose and one help within the Bundesliga and UEFA Convention League. Nevertheless, his defensive output stands out most. He’s averaging 4.9 duels received per sport and eight.7 recoveries per 90 minutes, which has caught the eye of a number of golf equipment.

In keeping with Plettenberg, Potulski is attracting curiosity from a number of golf equipment, together with Chelsea, who’ve joined the race to signal the Poland U21 worldwide centre-back.

The Blues’ youth recruitment drive entails a possible mortgage transfer to sister membership Strasbourg, and the identical is true for Potulski, because the German switch skilled provides that the London giants are already plotting a mortgage for the teenager to hitch the Alsatian outfit to develop additional.

Prospect

Nevertheless, the 6ft 4in ahead is extremely regarded throughout Europe, with AC Milan, Inter Milan, Como, Brighton, and Brentford set to compete with Chelsea for his signature, in keeping with the report.

Chelsea are already effectively stocked with promising centre-back expertise throughout each their academy and senior setup.  Josh Acheampong has been totally built-in into the first-team squad, whereas Mamadou Sarr can be a part of the membership’s long-term plans after being recalled from a mortgage spell at Strasbourg.

As well as, the Blues reached an settlement in precept in November to signal extremely rated Colombian defender Deinner Ordóñez from Independiente del Valle as soon as he turns 18, additional strengthening an already youthful defensive pipeline.

Given the depth of rising expertise, Chelsea might not have to prioritise one other younger centre-back. As an alternative, there’s a robust case for including expertise to the again line.

If Liam Rosenior is seeking to carry better stability and management to the defence, focusing on a confirmed, established defender might show extra useful than recruiting one other prospect who might require time to adapt to the calls for of the Premier League.