Carney Chukwuemeka: Chelsea to demand Nigerian record fee for a midfielder amid links with West Ham

Chelsea are looking to sell Austrian-born Nigerian midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka in the January transfer window.

According to The Daily Mail, The Blues will demand 40 million pounds (approximately N77.9 billion) to sell the Aston Villa academy product next month.

At that fee, Chukwuemeka would become the most expensive Nigeria-eligible midfielder in history if a deal were to happen, surpassing Super Eagles playmaker Alex Iwobi who moved to Everton from Arsenal in exchange for £35 million in the summer of 2019.

As per the report, West Ham are among the clubs interested in signing Chukwuemeka, while Chelsea's sister club in France, Strasbourg want him on a loan deal. 

The 21-year-old joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in 2022 but has fallen out of favor under manager Enzo Maresca.

Although the England youth international has not been selected for a Premier League match this season, he has played in five Cup fixtures, starting just one of them.

He is behind the likes of Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Roméo Lavia and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in Maresca's pecking order of central midfielders. 

Chukwuemeka is seeking a move away from Chelsea to a club that can guarantee him regular playing time, while the Stamford Bridge club are eager to reduce their wage bill.

He has a contract with Chelsea until the end of the 2027-2028 season.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: chelseafc.com

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