Chelsea ‘open talks’ to sign £6m striker ahead of Man Utd; Red Devils target sacrificed for Ronaldo | OneFootball

Chelsea have reportedly ‘opened talks’ to sign Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram this month amid reports linking him with Man Utd.

The Blues could do with signing a new striker with Armando Broja set for a long spell on the sidelines. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang meanwhile has not looked bothered when he’s played in recent weeks.

Thuram signed for Gladbach in 2019 from French outfit Guingamp. He has been in stunning form this term as he has grabbed ten goals and three assists in 15 Bundesliga outings.

The 25-year-old also provided two assists for France as the European side reached the final of the World Cup.

He is likely to leave the German outfit in the coming months as he is out of contract in the summer.

It has been reported that the forward is ‘available for as little as £6m’ this month so they can avoid losing him for nothing in the summer.

Fabrizio Romano is now reporting that Chelsea have ‘opened talks to explore a January deal for Thuram’.

The Blues are ‘exploring conditions’ but the player is being considered by ‘many top clubs’ this month.

It is said that Thuram ‘will take his time and consider all the options’ before he decides where to go next.

A separate report from Ben Jacobs recently revealed that Thuram has been ‘scouted’ by Man Utd.

‘Marcus Thuram is another name creeping into the conversation with Manchester United. I know that prior to the World Cup, they were scouting him and keeping an eye on his progress, so we’ll see how that develops,’ Jacobs wrote for Caught Offside.

‘It could be a more realistic move in the summer as he’ll be out of contract at the end of the season as things stand. United have been monitoring that situation, and it helps that he’s having a very strong season at the moment, with 13 goals in 17 games, and is someone who can play centrally or out wide.’

Jacobs adds that a loan deal may be ‘more likely’ for Man Utd this month.

‘Still, for all the talk and excitement of the transfer window, and the good form in what feels like a new era under Ten Hag, there remains an issue with big players,’ Jacobs added.

‘United are a bit hamstrung by the likely change of ownership and by not being in the Champions League this season.

‘I wouldn’t be too surprised if these issues mean that a loan deal is more likely than any permanent deal.’

The Red Devils may miss out on Thuram but they are being heavily linked with Al Nassr striker Vincent Aboubakar.

The 30-year-old was great for Cameroon at the World Cup but his future in Saudi Arabia was always likely to be affected by Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival.

It has recently been claimed that he has agreed to join Man Utd and this appears likely as he has apparently been released by Al Nassr.

This is according to Al-Riyadh (via GOAL). They state that Aboubakar has been ‘brutally released’ to ‘open up a squad slot’ for Ronaldo.

The ex-United man ‘can now be registered’, while Aboubakar is available on a free transfer.