Chelsea DEAL on as BlueCo announce Nottingham Forest signing

Robin Bairner

• 24 Jan 2025 13:30 GMT
• 2 min read

Chelsea have positioned themselves to land at least one centre-back in the January transfer window thanks to a signing that BlueCo have already wrapped up.

Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg are key to the operation, with Mamadou Sarr set to depart Liam Rosenior’s side and hook up with the Blues on a permanent basis. The 19-year-old is one of the most highly regarded young defenders in a league that has earned a reputation for producing some of the best centre-backs in the game.

This deal has been potentially unlocked following the announcement from the Ligue 1 club that they have signed Andrew Omobamidele from Forest on loan. Crucially, this deal has a purchase option. There is no indication what level this has been set at.

READ MORE: Winners and losers of Alejandro Garnacho joining Chelsea

Compared

Mamadou Sarr

D (C)

Strasbourg

Mamadou Sarr

D (C)

Strasbourg

VS

Andrew Omobamidele

D (C)

Nottingham

Andrew Omobamidele

D (C)

Nottingham

€3.3M	ETV	€5.8M
€2.5M - €4.1M	ETV Range	€4.4M - €7.3M
19 years old (29 Aug, 2005)	Age	22 years old (23 Jun, 2002)
France	Nationality	Ireland

Mamadou Sarr transfer to get green light?

From a Chelsea perspective, this could allow Enzo Maresca’s squad to be reinforced by the arrival of Sarr this January.

While there is a suggestion that the teenager could return to Racing on a temporary basis until the end of the season, the Alsace club are now well stocked with central defenders. As well as Omobamidele, who will become the senior player in his position on their books aged just 22, Abakar Sylla and Saidou Sow could be considered starters along with Sarr.

As such, a deal for Sarr looks on the cards this month, with the teenager able to go straight into Maresca’s squad should he wish.

READ MORE: Chelsea's five best January transfers of all time

Chelsea have already reinforced their defensive options this month by recalling Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Crystal Palace, which came in response to injuries to Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana.

Meanwhile, the likely permanent addition of Omobamidele brings another highly promising young defender onto BlueCo’s books and sets him up for a move to Chelsea in the long term should he thrive at the Ligue 1 side.