Yves Bissouma on Chelsea radar

Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are reportedly weighing up a summer move for 25-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma.

According to English journalist Nathan Gissing, Yves Bissouma is a long-term target for Chelsea and the subject of interest from the Blues over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The 25-year-old midfielder could leave Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Yves Bissouma spent his formative years in his homeland Mali, with his first foray into Europe coming in 2016 when he joined LOSC Lille. But the player has burst into the limelight since moving to Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2018, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old has turned out 124 times for the Seagulls in the last four years, chipping in with six goals and three assists. But Bissouma’s contract situation has left Brighton in a spot of bother, with his deal running out next year. Such a situation has captured the attention of some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, including Chelsea.

Chelsea will embark on a squad overhaul in the summer transfer window, and midfield might be an area of concern for Thomas Tuchel. If N’Golo Kante’s fitness issues were not enough, the French international and Jorginho face uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge, with their respective deals running out next year.

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Recent reports have claimed that Chelsea might be open to selling Jorginho, and Kante could also be on the chopping block. While Tuchel will likely integrate Conor Gallagher into the first-team setup next season, Chelsea will still need to secure the services of one midfielder in the summer transfer window.

Bissouma has thus emerged as a viable target for Chelsea, with the 25-year-old being a viable option to replace Jorginho. The Brighton midfielder already has years of experience in the Premier League and might not take too long to settle down at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea will likely face stiff competition from several other Premier League clubs in the race to sign Bissouma. For now, though, what seems certain is that the Malian international will leave Brighton & Hove Albion to embark on a new challenge in the summer transfer window.