Chelsea are refusing to budge from their valuation over the potential signing of Montpellier starlet Elye Wahi as Todd Boehly takes a rare hardline approach to transfer negotiations. The free-spending American billionaire is taking a different approach to negotiations for the striker, who has been tipped to join RC Strasbourg on loan if he makes the move from Ligue 1, but Boehly is holding firm on the price he is prepared to pay to clinch his signature.
The 20-year-old has emerged as one of France’s top talents and scored 19 goals in the top flight last season – including four in a 5-4 defeat to Lyon – attracting interest from Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
Chelsea are best placed to pursue a deal as they are in discussions with Montpellier to finalise a fee for Wahi after seeing an initial £21m offer knocked back.
But according to L’Equipe, talks have hit a roadblock as the west London club have set their maximum price, while Montpellier are keen to ‘maximise’ the financial value in the deal.
The report claims that Chelsea are ‘blocking’ their offer of £23.7m (€27.5m), which is £2.1m short of Montpellier’s £25.8m (€30m) asking price.
In realistic terms, it is not a massive gulf between the two clubs, but Boehly is so far refusing to make up the difference. That will cause some frustration for Montpellier, who are eager to find a replacement for Wahi as soon as possible.
It marks a seismic shift in the American’s approach to transfer dealings from his first season at the helm when he spent over £600m on transfers and recruitment costs. Now, he is haggling over a few million to ensure costs are kept down.
