Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria in action. (Getty Images)
As per Bild’s Christian Falk (h/t The Express), Chelsea have targeted Borussia Monchengladbach star Denis Zakaria ahead of the summer window.
Zakaria, 23, rose through the ranks of Servette FC’s youth system and made just 6 appearances for the club’s senior team before BSC Young Boys snapped him up in the summer of 2015. He immediately caught everyone’s attention after helping the Swiss giants qualify for the Europe League in his second season at Stadion Wankdorf.
After making 67 appearances for Young Boys, he was signed by Monchengladbach in the summer of 2017. Since then, he has established himself as a key member of the squad and has been one of the key figures in helping the German outfit finish in the top four this season.
His impressive performances have also attracted the attention of Premier League giants Manchester United and Manchester City, as per the report. And with just two years left on his contract, Chelsea should make a move for him this summer.
At the moment, Chelsea have a plethora of attack-minded midfielders in their ranks. The youngsters have done well so far but only Jorginho and Tiemoue Bakayoko are the defensive midfielders available at the manager’s disposal. Bakayoko has failed to live up to the expectations since his arrival and has been on loan in the last two campaigns.
Italian midfielder Jorginho also hasn’t been at his best and was dropped to the bench for several games. He has failed to claim the spot for himself under Lampard and is getting some starts due to the absence of N’Golo Kante. Thus, signing a defensive midfielder in the summer would bolster Chelsea’s depth.
In that regard, Zakaria would be a fantastic signing for the club’s future. The 23-year-old has been a key figure for the German outfit and has already made over 200 career appearances despite his tender age. He has also appeared in 28 games for Switzerland since his debut for the national team. Given his form, he could be a crucial player for the Blues in the following campaign if he is able to replicate the same form.
His inclusion would definitely bring healthy competition to Jorginho, whilst also adding some much-needed depth and quality to the squad. He is one of the most exciting box-to-box midfielders in Europe and could be a valuable player for the London outfit in the future.
With limited quality, Chelsea should strengthen their defensive midfield ranks, and signing Zakaria could help them reap rewards in the future. Kante has also been heavily linked with a move in the summer and thus, bringing in the Swiss youngster would be a wise move by the Blues.