Premier League club could now sell £52m player who Chelsea are big admirers of

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Chelsea could have the opportunity to sign a midfielder from one of their Premier League rivals this month.

Chelsea are admirers of Everton star Amadou Onana, according to the Daily Mirror.

The same outlet has also claimed that the Toffees are open to offers for the 22-year-old to help them with their financial issues, with the club being hit with a 10-point deduction this season for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

Elsewhere, a report from Nieuwsblad says Everton want €60m (£51.6m) for Onana.

Chelsea admirers of Amadou Onana

Even if Chelsea are admirers of Onana and he is available, it does not mean that the Blues should go out and get him.

Last summer, it would have been a different story. Chelsea lost the likes of Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante and based on how Onana played during the 2022/23 season, he perhaps could have been a good midfield replacement.

For example, the former Lille man made 2.2 tackles per game in the Premier League, which was the third-highest average in Everton’s squad (WhoScored).

However, Chelsea replaced their exiting midfielders with Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, while Conor Gallagher has been handed an important role this term.

It means there is no longer a need for Onana, assuming Lavia can remain fit after he returns from his latest injury.

Onana’s Belgium team-mate has struggled with injuries since arriving at Stamford Bridge. He has only played one game for the Blues this season, their 2-1 win against Crystal Palace at the end of December, and Mauricio Pochettino claimed after the match that the 20-year-old was finding it difficult to run.

It looks like this campaign is going to be a bit of a write off for Lavia and probably Chelsea as a whole, at least their Premier League season anyway.