Chelsea make ‘first offer’ for “top” French youngster who plays like Hugo Ekitike

Djylian N'Guessan plays like Hugo Ekitike. (REUTERS/Chris Radburn)

Chelsea’s commitment to youth recruitment remains central to their long-term vision under Enzo Maresca.

The Blues currently boast the youngest squad in the Premier League, filled with high-upside prospects sourced from across the globe.

Some are already making headlines — Estêvão has quickly become a favourite among supporters, while Josh Acheampong continues to grow in confidence with each outing. Others are progressing more quietly, with Facundo Buonanotte impressing in cup competitions and Jamie Gittens beginning to find his stride.

With the January window edging closer, Chelsea are not standing still.

The club are already moving to secure the next wave of elite young talent — and reports suggest their first formal approach has now been made.

Chelsea have submitted their first offer for Saint-Étienne teenager Djylian N’Guessan, according to reports in France.

L’Équipe claim the Blues have lodged a bid of around €8m (£7m) for the 17-year-old forward, though that figure falls short of Saint-Étienne’s valuation, which is believed to be closer to €12.5m (£11m).

N’Guessan made his senior debut in Ligue 1 earlier this year and, while opportunities have been limited following Saint-Étienne’s relegation, he has already opened his scoring account — netting in the Coupe de France last month.

The highly rated youngster has drawn attention from Arsenal and Brentford, but Chelsea are currently the only club to have made a concrete move. Former France youth coach Lionel Rouxel has labelled N’Guessan a “top” prospect, likening his style to Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike.

Chelsea must now decide whether to return with an improved offer ahead of January.

However, recent history suggests any deal could come with a developmental pathway rather than immediate first-team involvement. Much like Mathis Amougou, who joined from Saint-Étienne last year before being loaned out, N’Guessan could initially be viewed as a long-term project rather than an instant solution.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.