Chelsea are favourites to sign RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba in January

High European groups are lined as much as recruit a brand new defender, with 22-year-old French centre-back Castello Lukeba on the centre. Golf equipment throughout England are vying for the extremely regarded RB Leipzig defender, with Chelsea now main the winter race, in keeping with sources near the company enterprise.

Nevertheless, they don’t seem to be alone; Liverpool, Manchester United, and even Newcastle United are preserving cautious tabs on Lukeba, proving how widespread he has grow to be. Lukeba started his skilled profession with Olympique Lyonnais earlier than becoming a member of Leipzig in 2023. Since then, he has established himself as a constant starter within the Bundesliga.

His profile as a bodily robust, ball-playing centre-back with athleticism is especially engaging. Leipzig locations an incredible worth on him, and his present deal apparently extends till 2029. This season, the defender has appeared 12 occasions for RB Leipzig. Lukeba’s contract initially had a €90 million launch clause, which drove away many potential suitors.

Chelsea favourites to signal Castello Lukeba in January

In accordance with CaughtOffside, Chelsea is main the winter race to signal him subsequent month, forward of Liverpool, who’re additionally within the Frenchman. Lukeba, who has began just about each recreation for Leipzig this season, is presently the membership’s best-performing participant within the Bundesliga, trailing simply David Raum.

The 22-year-old’s contract has a launch clause that can be decreased to about £70 million in the summertime, however CaughtOffside reviews that Leipzig could also be ready to promote Lukeba to Chelsea for significantly much less, £53 million. Lukeba, unusually, was strongly steered to Manchester United by an unidentified recruiting government in 2023, in keeping with Soccer Insider, who described him as a ‘generational’ prospect.

Chelsea can be lacking Levi Colwill till halfway by way of subsequent 12 months as a result of an ACL damage sustained in pre-season, though Chalobah and Wesley Fofana made important contributions towards Arsenal. Some really feel the pair is considered one of England’s biggest centre-back combos proper now, so the necessity for an additional defender isn’t as urgent because it was in October.