Ligue 1 club want to sign forgotten Chelsea star this summer - Reports

Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens have registered an interest in signing out-of-favor Chelsea defender Malang Sarr on a permanent basis this season. The Frenchman has not appeared for the Blues since 2022, having been frozen out of the squad since the 2022-23 season.

Sarr has been on the books at Chelsea since the 2020-21 season when he signed for free after leaving French club Nice. The former France U-21 international has spent time on loan at FC Porto and AS Monaco, but failed to consolidate himself as a regular at Stamford Bridge.

Malang Sarr was left out entirely in 2023-24, with then-manager Mauricio Pochettino unaware of who he was when asked about him. The Frenchman trained with the academy players as he lost his place in the first-team squad, and didn't make a single appearance for the club.

A return to France now beckons for the 25-year-old with Lens interested in signing him this summer, as per Foot Mercato. The Ligue 1 side are keen to strengthen their squad after narrowly missing out on a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023-24. They finished seventh in the league, two points behind RC Lens.

Sarr nearly left Chelsea midway through the 2023-24 season, having agreed on a two-and-a-half-year deal with French outfit Le Havre. The defender underwent a successful medical but saw the deal break down at the 11th hour after the Blues pulled out of the agreement.

Sarr hasn't been pictured in pre-season training at the Blues' Cobham base this summer, indicating that he's not in Enzo Maresca's plans either. The Frenchman will pursue a transfer away from Stamford Bridge this summer, and Lens are showing the greatest interest.

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Chelsea ramping up attempt to sign Brazilian wonderkid - Reports

Chelsea are upping their efforts to complete the signing of Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Mec, who has been likened to Neymar Jr., as per Football365. The Blues are keen to act quickly to sign the talented 16-year-old forward before any rivals have a chance to.

The Blues have employed a youth-centric transfer strategy since the 2022 arrival of Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Group. The west London side have already signed 17-year-old winger Estevao Willian this summer, having signed Kendry Paez at 16 last summer.

Chelsea have continued to acquire some of the finest talent, with Aaron Anselmino and Caleb Wiley expected to join, and they do not wish to stop. They have representatives in Brazil to speak with Gremio and the representatives of teenager Mec as they look to complete his signing.