Chelsea are interested in signing the Werder Bremen defender Karim Coulibaly at the end of the season.

According to Florian Plettenberg, the 18-year-old central defender is also a target for clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United and Newcastle United. The German club will hold out for a fee of around €40-50 million for him. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea is prepared to break the Bank for him.

The defender is considered a ‘top talent with huge potential’. He could prove to be a superb long-term acquisition for Chelsea if they manage to get the deal done. They need to improve defensively, and players like Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile will have to be replaced in the summer. They have the financial muscle to pay up to €50 million for the young defender, and he might be able to justify the investment in future. 

On the other hand, Manchester United need a deeper squad, especially if they manage to secure Champions League qualification for the upcoming campaign. Even though Harry Maguire has signed a new deal with the club, they need a long-term replacement for him. The 18-year-old could be ideal for them. Manchester United have the financial resources...