Chelsea transfer target BRUTALLY told to leave by his manager

16 Aug 2023 15:51 BST
3 min read

Mauricio Pochettino and the Chelsea badge on a blue abstract background — © ProShots

Chelsea-linked Montpellier striker Elye Wahi will be allowed to leave the Ligue 1 club, says his boss – on one condition.

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Wahi, 20, was one of the top scorers in the French top flight last term, finding the net 19 times in 33 appearances – prompting interest this summer from a number of clubs around Europe.

West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt are also chasing the France U21 international, who Montpellier won’t block from moving on at the right price.

MORE: Mourinho wants to raid Chelsea for academy talent

One of Wahi’s teammates, centre-back Maxime Esteve, has also been linked with a departure, with AC Milan said to be interested in the 21-year-old.

And Montpellier manager Michel Der Zakarian told reporters on Wednesday (August 15): “For Elye [Wahi] or for Maxime [Esteve], they can go, but we need an offer that suits us.”

Our in-house Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) model currently rates Wahi at €9.9m – but, according to Santi Aouna and Sebastien Denis of Foot Mercato, Eintracht have already tabled a €28m offer for the six-foot frontman.

MORE: Chelsea finally reach agreement for exit of flop willing to PAY for transfer

Montpellier ‘aren’t stupid’

Der Zakarian’s comments come only a couple of weeks after Montpellier president Louis Nicollin admitted the club had an agreement in place with Wahi regarding a transfer. He said:

“There is no deadline. We are August 3. We [Montpellier and Wahi] agreed on an exit. We’ll think about it if the league starts and maybe we’ll put a deadline. There’s a month left of the transfer window. We’ve said certain thing to each other.

“He’s training; we’ll see with him. If there’s nothing come the 20th or the 25th of August, we aren’t more stupid than anyone else; we’ll talk; he’ll be available for the first team.”

Wahi was involved in Montpellier’s Ligue 1 season-opening draw with Le Havre on Sunday (August 13), coming on as a 77th-minute substitute.