Yahoo Sports Brighton interested in signing Chelsea defender
Brighton & Hove Albion have expressed interest in signing Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo, according to the Daily Mail.
The news comes just seven months after the Blues acquired him on a free transfer from Fulham as they sought to bolster their defence.
The 27-year-old was behind Wesley Fofana in the pecking order, but an injury to the Frenchman has allowed the Manchester City academy product to become a mainstay in the starting XI.
Adarabioyo has been an important figure in the squad, contributing two goals during the FA Cup beating of Morecambe and showcasing steady improvement in form.
However, Brighton are keen on securing the centre-back in a permanent deal. The move could give Chelsea an almost immediate return on their minimal investment in Adarabioyo, potentially bolstering their financial standing under the Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
Speculatively, Chelsea could command a fee of around £20 million for the defender, but it remains to be seen if they would be willing to do such a deal in the middle of the season.
Axel Disasi is on the chopping block after some shoddy performances, while the oft-injured Benoit Badiashile is on the treatment table again. Fofana is out with a long-term injury, and Renato Veiga is looking for a way to go on loan, leaving Chelsea in a mini-crisis.
It would not be wise to let Adarabioyo move this winter transfer window. However, Chelsea’s sporting directors have shown they are not the sharpest tools in the shed after some ponderous squad-building decisions over the past two years.
Chelsea needed to revamp a defence that conceded a staggering 63 goals last season (only eight teams leet in more) but spent it adding more unnecessary youngsters to their roster.
They now find themselves in a defensive dilemma and could be forced to look at second-string options in the last days of the transfer window, especially if they sell Adarabioyo.
