Premier League champions Chelsea FC is close to signing left back Baba Rahman of German club FC Augsburg after their £25-million bid was reportedly deliberated by the Fuggerstädter, according to the Daily Star.
All indications are positive that manager Markus Weinzierl will approve of the deal even though Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Arsenal are also planning to propose for the services of the Ghanian defender.
Weinzierl had previously denied the Blues' £17.5 million offer, but the £7.5 million increase might have changed his mind. Augsburg had acquired Baba from 2. Bundesliga squad Greuther Fürth for only £1 million last year where he played since 2012.
His agent, Sacha Emphacher, said that the Tamale native is eager to play in England and "Chelsea made an attractive offer" that his client could not pass up.
"Both clubs are still working on fine-tuning but we hope the agreement will be finalized soon," Emphacher said.
Ghana head coach Avram Grant referred Baba to Chelsea boss José Mourinho, saying that he was his team's "best players." The Israeli manager was all praises to his ward, which led to Mourinho's current interest on the 21-year-old Ghanian.
Daily Mail Online indicated that Mourinho intends to utilize Baba as replacement for Brazilian defender Filipe Luís, who returned to Atlético Madrid after only a year of service with the Pensioners.
Luís had not been effective for Mourinho's system as Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta thrived in the position. This led to the Brazil international being sold back to Los Colchoneros for the same fee of £16 million Chelsea paid last year.