Chelsea, PSG Launches Same Bid For Achraf Hakimi's Signature.

Chelsea have matched the offer that has been made by French giants Paris Saint-Germain for Achraf Hakimi signature.

The Premier League summer transfer window has been officially opened for business today, and Chelsea have already begun negotiations with several players and hope to get all deals done before the transfer window closes on August 31st.

Chelsea have launched a £56.1million (€60m/$73m) bid, same as rivals PSG for Inter Milan right wing-back Achraf Hakimi.

PSG have been the frontrunners from the start, but that has seemingly not deterred Chelsea who are apparently also willing to offer two players in exchange for the deal.

We understand that Emerson Palmieri and Andreas Christensen are the names mentioned, which could then could close the gap to Inter’s asking price of €80m which has been the delay for PSG to secure the deal. 

The Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is keen on adding three new players to his squad this summer, with the addition of a right-sided defender thought to be high up on his wish list.

Under the German manager, Chelsea have adopted a back-five approach since his arrival at the club towards the end of January, making wing-backs play a very key role in his system, as they provide support to the back-three and bombing forward to provide an attacking option in the final third.

Cesar Azpilicueta now 31 would be out of contract next summer, and Reece James also being used as one of the centre-back in a three especially towards the end of last season, means that both James and Hakimi could technically play in the same defense for the Blues.

Tuchel is ready to bolster his team next season as European champions. They would  discover their fixture list for the 2021/22 Premier League campaign next week. 

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter are said to be ready to sell the Moroccan full-back who won the league title with the team last season due to the club’s unstable financial situation as they look to balance their books before the end of the month and the fiscal year.

Hakimi spent two seasons on loan in Germany with Borussia Dortmund where impressed in a back-five with his attack minded approach, which saw him score 12 goals.

He scored seven goals and claimed 11 assists in all competitions for Inter in the just concluded 2020/21 campaign.