Chelsea to rival Real in summer bid for superstar signing

Peter Staunton
  • Updated: 14 Mar 2024 06:32 CDT
  • 4 min read
Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich, 2023/24
© IMAGO

Chelsea could rival Real Madrid in their pursuit of Bayern Munich’s in-demand left back Alphonso Davies this summer.

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Davies, 23, is out of contract in Bavaria in 2025 and so far there has been no breakthrough regarding a new deal with the club’s hierarchy.

The Canadian signed his current Bayern deal back in 2020 and it’s reported to be worth just over €10 million a year.

Davies seeking significant Bayern salary increase

However, Davies is seeking a significant pay bump, which would place him alongside the club’s top earners like Harry Kane, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer and Leroy Sane.

READ MORE: Chelsea identify two replacements for the 'best player in the world'

Bayern are not ready to bow to his demands however and have their eye on Theo Hernandez as a possible replacement should no breakthrough be found.

With only one year left on his deal, Bayern would be forced into a sale given he would be able to leave for free in 2025.

Real Madrid have long been thought of as the No.1 contenders for the Canada international’s signature with significant movement expected in their left-back area this summer.

Alphonso Davies Bayern Munich
© IMAGO - Alphonso Davies Bayern Munich

Question marks have long persisted over Ferland Mendy due to his various fitness issues and deputy Fran Garcia is untested at the elite level.

But it's no foregone conclusion that he ends up in the Spanish capital at this stage.

Chelsea to rival Real for Davies

But Real’s budget could well be swallowed up this summer by the acquisition of Kylian Mbappe, meaning financing a €70m transfer fee - and accommodating Davies’ massive wage demands - could be out of reach.

Now reports are emerging through The Secret Scout that Chelsea are getting serious about their efforts to sign Davies.

Marc Cucurella has been a failed experiment, with the club seeking to offload him as quickly as possible, and manager Mauricio Pochettino has even played centre back Levi Colwill as cover for the often-absent first-choice Ben Chilwell.

The Blues have also been linked with Archie Brown of Gent, but Davies would represent a world-class option in the position.

Chelsea have got other left backs out on loan in Lewis Hall at Newcastle and Ian Maatsen at Dortmund.

Chelsea’s lack of financial headroom

The club’s preference is to sell both Hall and Maatsen and use any proceeds to fund the upcoming window.

Todd Boehly’s club do not have significant headroom in the market this summer and need to sell around £100m worth of players before the end of June in order to comply with FFP and Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Last week the club reported a loss of over £90 million for the period covering March 2022 to June 2023.

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