According to an exclusive report from French media outlet Foot Mercato, Chelsea are now in the running to sign alleged West Ham target Fode Ballo-Toure.
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Foot Mercato claimed in January that the 23-year-old left-back was the subject of a last minute offer from the Hammers.
The left-back, who can also operate in left midfield, joined Monaco from Lille in January 2019 for around £9.6 million (France24).
West Ham really need a new left-back. Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku have been in poor form over the past year or so.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will be looking to added a left-sided defender to his ranks as well.
Fode Ballo-Toure (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Foot Mercato claims that Chelsea might sell Emerson and/or Marcos Alonso this summer. And they will look to bring in Monaco ace Ballo-Toure as a replacement.
And that could be a big problem for Hammers boss David Moyes.
Stats
The 23-year-old has failed to rack up either a goal or an assist in 21 Ligue 1 outings for Monaco so far this season (Who Scored).
In those 21 appearances, Ballo-Toure has averaged 1.7 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 1.7 clearances per game (Who Scored).
Fode Ballo-Toure (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
In truth, those numbers aren’t very impressive.
Foot Mercato describe the Monaco ace as a fast player who is capable of making attacking runs, overlapping whoever is playing in front of him.
The Frenchman is only 23. So he very well could go on to become a top player.
But considering his stats this season, signing him would represent a big risk for either Chelsea or West Ham.
Perhaps both the Blues and the Hammers should see how Ballo-Toure progresses over the next 12 months or so before making a concrete move for him.