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Atletico Madrid have rejected a £42m bid from Chelsea for Spanish striker Samu Omorodion, according to reports.
Chelsea have identified Omorodion, 20, as a top target this summer after missing out on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
New Blues boss Enzo Maresca wants to bolster his attacking options during the summer transfer window after Nicolas Jackson’s mixed first season at Stamford Bridge.
Jackson scored 17 goals in all competitions but could have had far more, missing a number of chances and facing criticism for his wastefulness in the final third.
Atletico Madrid signed Omorodion from Granada last summer and sent the striker on loan to Alaves for the 2023-24 season.
He only netted eight goals in 34 La Liga games but impressed his parent club enough to ensure they considered recalling him midway through the season.
Atletico are under no pressure to sell Omorodion, who was La Liga’s Player of the Month in February, and have knocked back a bid from Chelsea worth £42, according to The Sun.
Chelsea will need to drastically improve their offer to bring the Spain U21 star to Stamford Bridge and likely meet his release clause which stands at just under £70m.
Speaking last October, Atletico boss Diego Simeone insisted Omorodion would develop into an ‘important player’ for the La Liga giants.
‘You can see him evolving in the games we’ve followed involving Alaves,’ the Atleti head coach said.
‘He’s a young guy, strong, with a lot of speed in long spaces and very good play in the box with his body.
‘Let’s hope he does well at Alaves, because he has a future with Atletico. He spent only a few days with us but he looks humble and hardworking. He will be an important player.’
Omorodion looks set to feature for Spain at the Paris Olympics this summer before returning to Madrid and looking to break into Simeone’s first-team.
Chelsea have already made four summer signings ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Omari Kellyman, while they have sold Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson.
The Blues enjoyed a late surge towards the end of last season to finish sixth in the Premier League and qualify for Europe, but still changed manager, hiring Maresca to replace Mauricio Pochettino.
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