Chelsea are not messing about with their summer transfer dealings.
The Blues have already wrapped up the signing of Ajax star Hakim Ziyech for the upcoming summer window, and they are now keeping a beady eye on the progress of another Moroccan star to bolster their young squad.
Real Madrid full back Achraf Hakimi has been a star performer during his two-year loan spell at German side Borussia Dortmund, playing on the right or left of defence, or even filling in on the wings.
But Europe's top clubs have been put on red alert by the news that the loan deal does not contain an option to buy at the end of the campaign, and according to The Mirror, Chelsea smell blood.
The west London club have enquired over the availability of Hakimi, but they have been told by Los Blancos that they are waiting until the summer before making any decision over the 21-year-old's future.
Madrid's initial plan was to include the attacking full back in their squad for the upcoming season, but the final call rests with coach Zinedine Zidane, who will pass his judgement upon the starlet's return to the Spanish capital.
Should the Frenchman conclude that Hakimi is surplus to requirements, then Chelsea will be hot on the youngster's heels to snatch him away from the Santiago Bernabeu. The Moroccan star would provide some much-needed cover and competition for 20-year-old Reece James, who has broken into Frank Lampard's team this season and made a big impression on the Stamford Bridge faithful.
But the Blues are not the only interested party, of course. Bayern are also keen on signing Hakimi, having watched him excel in the Bundesliga over the past two years.
And it's easy to see why the Madrid youth star is turning so many heads. Hakimi has played a key role in the Dortmund team this campaign, bagging seven goals and 10 assists in his 37 appearances thus far.
His current contract with Madrid is set to expire at the end of the 2020/21 season, and it contains a buy-out clause of around £50m - a figure which looks very reasonable given his exploits at Dortmund over the last two years.
Hakimi has made it clear to the Madrid hierarchy that he will not put pen to paper on a new deal unless he is guaranteed first-team football, and with the experienced Dani Carvajal sitting in his way, that proposition seems highly unlikely.
Source :
90min
