Report: The reason Chelsea had to make 'quick' decision on whether to sign Mathis Amougou in January explained
It came as a surprise to many fans when Chelsea completed the signing of Mathis Amougou from Saint-Etienne on deadline day of the recent January transfer window.
Mathis Amougou, who’s only aged 19, joined Chelsea on a mammoth eight-year contract.
The teenage midfielder only played 19 first-team games for Saint-Etienne in total, but the Blues still coughed up £12.5m this winter to bring him to the club.
Like so many signings under this Chelsea ownership, Amougou is a young and inexperienced profile signed for the future. However, he’s gone straight into the senior group and was an unused substitute in the recent FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admits Amougou won’t immediately be an important player, but he’s with the club as the youngster looks to settle in England.
- READ MORE: Mathis Amougou names his favourite Chelsea player of all time and his best position in club Q&A
The reason Chelsea had to make quick decision on Mathis Amougou signing
According to The Athletic, Chelsea’s decision to sign Amougou from Saint-Etienne in the recent transfer window had to be ‘quick’.
Apparently, the Blues have actually been scouting the young French talent for the last two years. Also, German side Bayer Leverkusen tried and failed to sign him last summer.
The report explains that Champions League teams from Europe’s top five leagues were signalling interest in Amougou during January. Chelsea were prepared to wait until the summer to make their move for the central midfielder, but they eventually stepped up their pursuit late in the window to ensure they didn’t miss out.
Chelsea’s plan is to send Amougou to sister club Strasbourg on loan next season, but he’ll spend the next few months with Maresca’s squad adjusting to his surroundings.
Amougou said it was an “honour” to join Chelsea after signing permanently. Let’s hope that he gets a fair crack to try and carve out a career in West London.
In terms of his chances of making a club debut this season, it’s definitely a positive sign that he’s been included in the Conference League squad.
Chelsea think Mathis Amougou is similar to Blues midfielder
The Athletic’s report adds that Chelsea view Amougou as a No 6 they can develop. Apparently, the January signing is viewed to be in a similar mould to Blues midfielder Romeo Lavia, who’s one of the best deep-lying playmakers in the Premier League when fit and firing.
Amougou will learn plenty training with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea. It sounds like he’ll be wise shadowing Lavia when he’s back from his latest injury, too.
We’ve seen this season that the Blues massively miss Lavia when he’s not available, so we can understand the club looking for a similar profile to cover for him in the squad.
Even though Amougou is still at the infancy of his senior football career, Chelsea should be able to learn a lot about him in these next few months as he works with the main group.
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