FC Bayern are still on the lookout for promising defensive players on the international transfer market, and a young talent from the Premier League has increasingly become the focus of Munich’s attention
According to the Guardian, the German record champions are keeping a close eye on 19-year-old Josh Acheampong from Chelsea FC. The Englishman is seen as a highly interesting option for the future in Munich, particularly due to his exceptional versatility. Acheampong can play at right-back and left-back as well as in the center of defense or in defensive midfield – a profile that is highly valued at FC Bayern
Bayern have not completely ruled out a transfer in the current transfer window, but prefer to proceed with patience. A move in the summer is considered much more realistic internally, as they want to take their time to sound out the market and wait and see how the player develops
Chelsea want to keep Acheampong at all costs
However, a quick deal is likely to be complicated. According to the Guardian, Chelsea have emphasized internally on several occasions that they do not want to sell Acheampong. The defender comes from the Blues‘ own youth ranks and is considered one of England’s greatest defensive talents within the club. The Londoners‘ stance is correspondingly clear: Acheampong should be kept and developed further
The contractual situation also currently speaks against a short-term transfer. Acheampong is still tied to Chelsea until 2029 and there is no release clause. His current market value is estimated at around €20 million, although Chelsea are likely to demand a significantly higher transfer fee in the event of negotiations
Plenty of playing time despite his young age
Despite his young age, Acheampong has already made 17 competitive appearances for Chelsea this season. This top-level playing time has also attracted the interest of other top clubs. In Munich, the Englishman is seen as a potential future project who could cover several defensive positions in the future – an aspect that is playing an increasingly important role in the current squad planning
Whether FC Bayern actually gets serious depends not least on further developments in its own defensive center, but one thing is clear: Josh Acheampong is on the internal list – and is likely to be watched closely in the coming months.
