Chelsea identify 21-year-old Manchester City forward as potential transfer target

Manchester City could be subject to further transfer interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea this summer, following on from the business completed around Cole Palmer.

The two English top-flight giants reached an agreement over the transfer of the England international towards the end of the last summer window, in a move that ultimately proved to be most successful for Chelsea bosses.

Cole Palmer went on to establish himself as Chelsea’s outright top goalscorer across competitions last season, claiming the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award in the process and becoming a popular component of the England international squad.

But following the successes of signing Cole Palmer from Manchester City, it comes as no surprise to learn that Chelsea are now eyeing other potential ‘fringe’ players at the Etihad Stadium who could be targeting improved first-team opportunities.

The latest reports have linked the club with one of the breakthrough names in Pep Guardiola’s squad from last season, and a rising star that is already being tipped as one of the next big names to emerge on the European scene.

According to the information of Chelsea-focussed journalist Si Phillips, the West London club are now looking at Manchester City’s Oscar Bobb as a potential option in the ongoing transfer market due to the fact that the Norwegian is ‘in a similar position’ to Cole Palmer last summer.

It is claimed that Chelsea officials believe that they might have an opportunity to secure the signing of Bobb if he does not play as much as he wants to in City’s upcoming pre-season tour of the United States, and does not feel he is going to get the chances at the Etihad Stadium.

Oscar Bobb is “very much a ‘Joe Shields target’”, according to Si Phillips’ report, with the Chelsea director and formerly influential figure at both Manchester City and Southampton rating the Norway international highly.

Elsewhere and Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Manchester City Academy graduate James McAtee, who is back at the club following successive loan spells at Sheffield United in the Championship and Premier League.

Despite interest from the London club and other sides from various European leagues, it is widely believed that Manchester City are not pushing for a sale this summer and will give McAtee an opportunity to convince Pep Guardiola he can be a part of his first team squad.

McAtee will likely play some part in Manchester City’s upcoming four pre-season friendly fixtures in the United States across the next three weeks, with Celtic, AC Milan, FC Barcelona, and Chelsea lined up as opponents Stateside.