Chelsea 'reignite interest' in Ligue 1 striker | OneFootball

Chelsea are reported to have reignited their interest in Lens striker Elye Wahi.

Wahi, now 21, scored 19 goals across the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season with Montpellier and was widely expected to join Chelsea last summer as part of a deal which would have seen him move to sister side Strasbourg.

However, Wahi ultimately declined the move, publicly admitting he was not impressed with Chelsea's plan for him, and instead joined Lens, for whom he struck 12 goals in 37 games in all competitions.

L'Equipe state that Wahi is already looking to leave Lens after just 12 months and Chelsea have once again registered their interest in the young striker.

There is not believed to have been a concrete offer from Chelsea yet, with the Blues instead waiting to see gauge sort of price Lens will demand to part ways with Wahi.

Wahi was linked with Chelsea last summer / Franco Arland/GettyImages

Whether Chelsea see Wahi as a first-team player or another potential recruit for Strasbourg is not yet clear. The Blues' sister side are currently led by 21-year-old Emanuel Emegha, who netted eight times in Ligue 1 last season, while 18-year-old Milos Lukovic has already joined this summer.

Chelsea are chasing a young striker to bolster their own forward line. An approach for Aston Villa's Jhon Duran was made earlier in the transfer window, before the Stamford Bridge outfit lodged their interest in Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid.

Any move for a new striker could be funded by the sale of Romelu Lukaku, who is once again available for transfer this summer.

Reports suggest the Belgian has already agreed personal terms with Napoli, who are keen to arrange a reunion between Lukaku and his former Inter boss Antonio Conte.