Chelsea to lose World Cup finalist in ambitious raid

Tom Weber

• Updated: 15 May 2024 18:10 BST
• 4 min read

BlueCo-owned RC Strasbourg could lose U17 World Cup finalist Tidiane Diallo this summer, according to French media.

The Alsatian club are looking to become one of France's most prolific producers of talent. Even before being acquired by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and company last year, Strasbourg made the decision to become younger.

After building one of Ligue 1's most inexperienced squads, the Alsatians struggled for much of the season, though a credible threat of relegation only rarely manifested itself. Nevertheless, protests against BlueCo were commonplace at Strasbourg games with fans outraged that their club is being turned into a farm team for Chelsea.

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Andrey Santos and Angelo Gabriel have been loaned from Chelsea to Strasbourg this term and Pape Diong, a 17-year-old initially linked with the Blues, appears to be on his way to France too.

Diong and versatile midfielder Habib Diarra have been earmarked as being capable of eventually making the step up to Chelsea, but another player who falls into that category appears to be on the way out.

Leipzig to poach Diallo

According to L'Equipe, RB Leipzig are trying to poach Tidiane Diallo from Strasbourg. The 17-year-old winger is out of contract this summer and has a four-year deal from the Red Bulls on the table.

Strasbourg themselves have offered the teenager fresh terms and are confident of securing an extension, but the allure of Leipzig could prove too great. Not only will the Red Bulls be in the Champions League next season but they also have a stunning track record of developing francophone talent.

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The Bundesliga side have made a habit of raiding the French market in recent years, with the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Christopher Nkunku, Lois Openda, Castello Lukeba, El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Mohamed Simakan - from Strasbourg - all having been or currently being on the books at Leipzig.

Diallo has been training with Strasbourg's senior team in recent times and was part of the France squad that finished as runners-up to Germany at the U17 World Cup in Indonesia in late 2023.