Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Southampton over a shock swoop for Tyler Dibling, whose last stint at Stamford Bridge lasted just weeks.
The 19-year-old joined Chelsea in 2022 but struggled to adapt to being away from home, which led to his departure after a few weeks. However, he is believed to be more ready for a move away now, especially with Southampton dropping down to the Championship.
Softfootball can report that Enzo Maresca’s side have invested heavily in their forward line with deals for Brighton’s Joao Pedro and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap. 18-year-old winger Estevao is set to join following the Club World Cup campaign but he may not be the only right-sided winger arriving at Stamford Bridge this summer.
The Blues have been consistent with their transfer strategy over the last several transfer windows, and that has continued this summer. The Premier League outfit have invested significant funds in players who have yet to reach their prime with the average age of their recruits in this window just 20 years old.
The lack of experience has not hindered the team on the pitch as they secured qualification for the Champions League next season and have advanced into the semi-finals of the CWC where they will play Brazilian outfit Fluminense.
Now it looks like the Blues have set their eyes on another young talent who could be their next target. And interestingly, he was on their books at one point but for a very short period of time.
According to Football Transfers, Chelsea have reopened talks with the representatives of Tyler Dibling. Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa and RB Leipzig are all monitoring the situation, while Bayern Munich and FC Porto have made contact for the Southampton midfielder as well.
Securing a move won’t be easy for Chelsea, as a long list of other clubs are also interested in the player. Moreover, Southampton will look for at least £55 million to consider parting ways, although one would hope that there is room for some serious negotiation on that figure.
Dibling is a highly talented player who is only expected to improve in the coming years, and widespread interest from other clubs is only natural. If Chelsea are able to sign him, it would have to be considered a coup although one has to wonder where he would fit in in an already strong midfield department at Stamford Bridge.
There are varying reports on the fee, with anything between £55 million-£100 million being quoted. Even the lower end of that scale would seem excessive for a player who highlighted potential but made little impact in his 33 Premier League appearances.
However, it has been a policy at Chelsea to spend big on players with potential, and it does appear to be the type of transfer that the club would pursue. It could be a profitable summer for the Saints.
Recall, Softfootball had previously reported that Chelsea has confirmed Jamie Gittens signing in £48.5m deal from Dortmund. Chelsea has completed the signing of England youth international Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £48.5 million, with a further £3.5 million in performance-related add-ons.
Only four times since the start of the 2019 season has BVB sold a player for a fee larger than €50m. Jadon Sancho, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham were the first three; now Gittens is the fourth.
