Chelsea are reportedly keen on signing Aleksandr Golovin this summer, but Monaco have made a bid of their own for the Russian playmaker.
The 22-year-old has impressed at club level with CSKA Moscow, bagging seven goals and six assists in 43 appearances last season.
Further, he continued to showcase his quality on the big stage with a starring role in Russia’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals this summer, and that in turn has seemingly led to increased interest in his signature.
According to Sky Sports, new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is keen to see him arrive at Stamford Bridge, but Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has revealed that the French outfit have submitted a significant offer for the creative ace.
“[It’s] a more than generous offer, the contract length offered is five years,” he is quoted as saying in the report. “I think that a club in transition like Monaco is the best option for him, at this stage in his career.”
Vasilyev admittedly makes a good point. Golovin will have to take a big step up in quality if he goes directly from CSKA to the Premier League, and so perhaps a short-term stop off in France could help his development and take his game to the next level.
It remains to be seen whether or not he prefers that route and accepts the offer on the table from Monaco, but if he does, that will be a transfer blow for Chelsea given their reported interest in the Russian star.
Sarri will be looking to bring in reinforcements in the coming weeks to stamp his mark on the squad inherited from Antonio Conte. With the Italian tactician bringing a different style of play and ideas to the club, it could be key that he’s given the players necessary to quickly adopt a more expansive and attacking approach.