Chelsea ‘positioning’ to sign Strasbourg center back Mohamed Simakan — report

Chelsea have been linked with a number of centre backs in recent months, from David Alaba and Anel Ahmedhodžić, to Ben White and Jérôme Boateng. A new name has now entered our rumor mill, with the Blues apparently also monitoring Mohamed Simakan of Strasbourg.

L’Equipe (via Sport Witness) claim that Chelsea have “positioned themselves” for signing the 20-year-old, but are in no rush to actually make a move. The Blues are said to be looking at Simakan as a summer signing, with his acquisition dependent on the departure of one or more of our other centre backs.

Standing at 1.87 metres tall, the France U20 international has made 17 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, and 36 league appearances for Strasbourg in total since he made his debut at the beginning of the cancelled 2019-20 season. He started his senior career as a right back, but has transitioned to a centre back this season, and has also played as a defensive midfielder at times.

Simakan, whose Strasbourg contract expires in 2023, has interest from the likes of Napoli, as well as unnamed clubs in England and Germany. AC Milan have been linked with him incessantly in recent weeks — L’Equipe have even mentioned a bid about to go in — so Chelsea will need to hope that the Rossoneri don’t sign him this January (or we can take control of destiny ourselves and sign him in this window and loan him back out to Strasbourg for the remainder of the season a la Kurt Zouma in 2014).