Chelsea enquire about RB Leipzig centre back with £60m release clause | OneFootball

Chelsea have reportedly enquired about RB Leipzig centre back Castello Lukeba who has a £60m release clause in his contract.

The 21-year-old only joined the Bundesliga outfit last summer from French side Lyon for £34m and has gone on to make 43 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig.

Despite this being the France international’s first season in Germany, he is already attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest club.

Foot Mercato report the Blues have enquired about the centre back, whilst Manchester United have been following Lukeba’s performances over the last few weeks.

The reports adds that Leipzig are not keen to part ways with the talented defender at the end of the season, but it could be a different case in 2025 when the release clause kicks in.

The Blues are in the market for a centre back this summer with it being confirmed that Thiago Silva will leave the club at the end of the season.

Trevoh Chalobah is also expected to be sold as the club look to raise money to fund summer spending and comply with Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

Chelsea have been linked with Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande as well as Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah.

Losing the experience of Silva will leave the Blues with a talented but very young and inexperienced back line.

Axel Disasi would suddenly become the most experienced, with Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile all in their early twenties.

It’s vital with such a young squad that Chelsea add leadership and experience to help the young players in the summer, but it appears the club are not open to deviating away from their plan of signing the best young talent from around the world and Europe.

What the Blues do in the transfer market this summer will go along way to determining the direction the club is  heading in over the next couple of years.