Chelsea Face Competition For Ex-Barcelona Target

Fulham have joined the hunt for Jean Micheal Seri as Chelsea sort their managerial problems. The Blues have been long linked with a move for the Nice midfielder, who is destined to leave the club this summer.

Jean Micheal Seri was on the verge of joining Barcelona last year but a move failed to materialize. His £35m release clause is set to expire on July 15th and with just one year remaining on his current contract, OGC Nice will be looking to cash in on the midfielder this summer.

According to the latest report from Sky Sports, Chelsea do remain interested in Seri but could face stern competition from a host of top clubs around Europe and Fulham joining the race could make things even more difficult for the Blues. However, the 26-year-old’s first preference is to join the Premier League, which could hand the PL giants a huge boost in their pursuit of Seri.

The Ivorian midfielder has been one of the most consistent players in the Ligue 1 for the past couple of seasons. Since his move to Nice in the summer of 2015, Seri has emerged as a lynchpin making over 123 appearances in all competitions. During his time with the French outfit, the 26-year-old helped the regain their best form under the leadership of current Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre.

His exceptional performances in the French top flight attracted the interest of several top clubs around Europe including Barcelona and Arsenal while Manchester City have also kept tabs on the Ivorian.

Seri’s inclusion could prove to be a smart piece of business considering Chelsea’s plethora of problems in the midfield department. While N’Golo Kante has emerged as a successful signing for the Blues, the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Danny Drinkwater and Tiemoue Bakayoko have disappointed throughout the course of last season.

Therefore, Sarri will definitely look to secure the services of a reliable midfielder who can partner Kante in the double pivot midfield. Thus, Jean Michael Seri is a viable target for the Blues as they look to make a strong impression in the Premier League next season.