July 25th 2024.
It seems that Rennes defender Guela Doue has caught the attention of Chelsea, as the London club has managed to secure his signing. This comes after a tough competition with Roma, who were also interested in the talented right-back. Doue will be joining the Blues as their seventh new addition in this summer's transfer window, as Chelsea has been busy revamping their squad under new manager Enzo Maresca.
The club has already brought in Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Caleb Wiley, Renato Veiga, Omari Kellyman, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in their quest to strengthen their team. And it looks like they are not done yet, as they are also closing in on a deal for Villarreal goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. The young goalkeeper will provide competition for current shot-stopper Robert Sanchez.
According to reports, Doue's move to Chelsea has been kept low-key until now. It is believed that the 21-year-old will join the club for a fee of €7 million, along with an additional €2 million in bonuses. However, he will not immediately join the Chelsea squad, as he will be sent on loan to Strasbourg for the upcoming season. This will give him the chance to gain valuable playing time and continue his development.
Doue is a versatile player who can play as a right-back, centre-back, or defensive midfielder. His talents have not gone unnoticed, as he had also caught the eye of Roma. However, he turned down a new contract offer from Rennes earlier this summer, which led to the club deciding to sell him now rather than risk losing him for free next year.
The young Ivorian joined Rennes at the age of eight and has come a long way through their academy system. He made his senior debut in 2023 and has since made 35 appearances in the French top-flight. He also has two caps for the Ivory Coast national team. Doue comes from a football family, with his older brother playing for Rennes and his cousins playing for Toulouse and Eldense.
After Chelsea's recent pre-season match against Wrexham, manager Enzo Maresca spoke to the media about the ongoing transfer window. He stated that anything is possible during this time and that the club is still looking to make more signings before the deadline. When asked specifically about Jorgensen, Maresca simply replied that they will have to wait and see.
Maresca also mentioned the importance of having a strong goalkeeper, especially for a team that plays the way Chelsea does. He praised Sanchez's performance and stated that he is happy with the current goalkeeping options at the club. However, he did not want to discuss players who are not yet officially part of the team. Overall, Maresca seems content with the progress of the team and is eagerly waiting to see who else will join Chelsea in this transfer window.
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