Chelsea are continuing to target Europe’s brightest talents after a lucrative summer transfer window, with one particular teenage phenom at the top of the winter list.

What’s the word?

Jude Bellingham is possibly the name holding the most weight in world football on the transfer front at present, with the 19-year-old’s endeavours for club and country leaving him as one of the most valuable players on the globe at £218m, according to CIES Football Observatory.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all firmly in the reckoning, alongside the Blues, but the west Londoners feel a move can be achieved regardless, with owner Todd Boehly said to be “obsessed” with the tantalising thought of bringing him to Stamford Bridge. 

And with Borussia Dortmund reportedly valuing their prized asset at £129m, Chelsea’s deep wallet will serve them well in clinching a deal, should they make the requisite strides toward putting the cogs in motion.

Imagine him & Nkunku

With transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently tweeting that Chelsea have won the race to sign prolific RB Leipzig sensation Christopher Nkunku, the onus on signings of supreme quality does not seem to have waned. 

Should Chelsea succeed in signing Dortmund’s wonderkid, a marvellous partnership could form in the pockets between midfield and attack.

With Nkunku scoring 17 goals in 23 outings for Leipzig this season, his offensive calibre is evident, with a burning desire to contribute effectively for his team on the offensive front.

Bellingham, in retrospect, has clinched nine goals and three assists in 22 appearances for his club this season, channelling a knack of his own for instigating promising forward transitions from the centre, however, it is his composure and tenacity in the middle of the park that lays the foundation of his glistening career.

This is further illustrated by the player's looping header to put England in front against Iran during their 2022 World Cup opener, his first goal for his country after 20 outings.

Adding the 19-year-old sensation to the fray could create a seamless link at the heart of the team, with his industrious prowess allowing the Frenchman freedom to flourish further up the field. 

There is an overarching sense of resignation at Dortmund, with the Yellow Wall accepting the fact that they will not be able to retain their precocious talent for years to come, and as such will look to strike a deal whilst the player’s value is at its zenith, before it dwindles alongside his current contract. 

As such, an affluent outfit such as Chelsea would be prudent to bite the bullet and claim the player's signature swiftly, with the knowledge that hesitation might tip the odds firmly in the favour of a rival suitor. 

With the eight-cap Nkunku reportedly costing the Blues £52m, Chelsea’s transfer expenditure under Boehly would be edging toward the £300m mark, with a deal for Bellingham raising that number considerably higher still.

However, the “superstar”, as dubbed by pundit Rio Ferdinand, would be an excellent addition nonetheless, with his pedigree already high despite his tender age.

Warding off interest from other prominent outfits would be a profound statement of intent from Boehly, with Chelsea adding one of the sport's brightest sparks alongside a prolific star in Nkunku, with success across multiple fronts undoubtedly set to follow.