Five players Chelsea and Man Utd could sign after Romano revelation

Robin Bairner

13 Mar 2024 11:00 CDT
5 min read

Alejandro Balde, Barcelona, Fabrizio Romano — © IMAGO

Chelsea and Manchester United have both prioritised signing a left-back in the summer transfer window, Fabrizio Romano reports, but who could the Premier League giants target?

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Romano says that the two clubs are likely to be competing directly for the same objective.

Both teams are known to be in the market for young players, so anyone over the age of 23 has not been considered here. Additionally, only players who are primarily left-backs are being studied.

Working on the basis that both Chelsea and Man Utd want to sign players who have the ability to become elite performers, only those who have a high ceiling are considered. This is based upon SciSports’ SciSkill predictions, which are based on hundreds of in-game data points.

Here are the five most realistic targets for these clubs.

Alejandro Balde – Barcelona

Age: 20

SciSkill: 94.1

Potential: 133.5

Estimated Transfer Value: €44.1m

Could Chelsea or Man Utd seek to take advantage of Barcelona’s fragility by signing Alejandro Balde from Barcelona? It’s certainly possible they will make an enquiry. After all, it’s known that Barca’s economic position remains poor and that a couple of major sales are required to get them back on the straight and narrow.

Is Balde going to be one of the players Barcelona are prepared to sacrifice though? That appears unlikely.

The 20-year-old is already a first-team regular and, according to SciSports, has enormous potential.

However, he has been struck down by a serious hamstring injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season and it would be a huge gamble for Chelsea or United to spend big on him with uncertainty clouding his return.

© IMAGO - Balde in Champions League action against Porto

Jorrel Hato – Ajax

Age: 18

SciSkill: 55.6

Potential: 126.6

Estimated Transfer Value: €18.9m

Hato is a player who is expected to move on in the summer, having been one of the most positive performers in what has been a complicated season for Ajax.

Just 18 years old, he is reckoned by SciSports to have the least current ability of anyone in this list, though equally his level is increasing more rapidly than any of his rivals here.

A breakout performer in the Eredivisie, he has attracted interest from major clubs, with Arsenal known to be linked with the teenager.

Milor Kerkez – Bournemouth

Age: 20

SciSkill: 84.7

Potential: 119.4

Estimated Transfer Value: €15.7m

Should Chelsea or Man Utd want a player with Premier League pedigree, they need only turn to the south coast, where Milos Kerkez has been enjoying an excellent season with Bournemouth.

The 20-year-old Hungary international only joined the Cherries last summer in a deal worth €17.9m from AZ, yet he has settled impressively into his role under Andoni Iraola.

His strengths have primarily been defensive, so Chelsea and Man Utd may look elsewhere for a more rounded attacking option given the importance of these qualities at the big clubs.

Luca Netz – Borussia Monchengladbach

Age: 20

SciSkill: 81.4

Potential: 117.3

Estimated Transfer Value: €13.5m

Netz is an interesting option because of his versatility. He has turned out in the Bundesliga this season both as a left-back and as a left-sided midfielder, while he is also capable of playing at centre-back.

A Germany U21 international, he has four assists to his credit in the Bundesliga this season.

Both clubs are known to be keeping a close eye on the 20-year-old, so is definitely a player worth tracking in the weeks ahead.

Quilindschy Hartman – Feyenoord

Age: 22

SciSkill: 91.6

Potential: 116.6

Estimated Transfer Value: €28.1m

Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag has loved to raid the Eredivisie since taking the reins at Old Trafford, and even if he’s no longer got the same muscle in terms of dictating transfers, Hartman is one player who could be linked to his club.

The 22-year-old has been a quickly rising star in the Netherlands this season, establishing himself as one of the leading full-backs in the league.

Crucially, he offers an attacking threat, with his distribution particularly strong. He has five assists for the season and picked up valuable Champions League experience in the autumn.