Transfer Centre

Chelsea eye move for Copenhagen's Roony Bardghji?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 12 November 2023

Chelsea are reportedly contemplating a move for 17-year-old Copenhagen attacker Roony Bardghji, who is also on the radar of Newcastle United and Nice.

Chelsea are reportedly contemplating a move for 17-year-old Copenhagen attacker Roony Bardghji following the teenager's Champions League exploits against Manchester United.

Two weeks on from an uninspiring 1-0 success over the Danish champions, where Andre Onana was forced into a last-minute penalty save, Erik ten Hag's men came out on the wrong end of a 4-3 scoreline for the second time in the Champions League this season.

Bardghji was an unused substitute in his side's narrow defeat at Old Trafford, but he came off the bench in the return fixture and netted a dramatic 87th-minute winner for Copenhagen, consigning Man United to their third loss from four European contests this term.

The winger's decisive goal in Group A was already his 10th from 23 senior appearances in all competitions in the current campaign, having also come up with seven Danish Superliga strikes in 15 games so far.

Since being promoted to the Copenhagen senior team in January 2022, Bardghji - who turns 18 on Wednesday - has netted 15 times in 66 matches for the Danish giants, in addition to contributing one assist.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their fourth goal on November 12, 2023 © Reuters

Bardghji was born in Kuwait City but represents Sweden at international level, and the winger has already played five times for the Under-21s, scoring one goal in a friendly win over Scotland in March.

According to Danish outlet Tipsbladet - via The Sun - Chelsea have taken a liking to the Copenhagen winger, whose existing contract with the perennial Danish champions runs until New Year's Eve 2025.

However, once Bardghji turns 18 this week, he will be able to command a new-and-improved deal from his current club, who are understandably keen to tie him down to fresh terms.

Chelsea are not the only Premier League team keeping tabs on Bardghji's displays, though, as Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are ready to provide stiff competition in the summer transfer window.

In addition, French outfit Nice - owned by prospective Man United stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe - also want to prise Bardghji away from Scandinavia, and Les Aiglons are said to be at the head of the queue.

Ineos chairman Jim Ratcliffe on March 17, 2023 © Reuters

Copenhagen have supposedly resigned themselves to losing their teenage protege in 2024, but they plan to cash in over the summer rather than in January as they endeavour to make waves in the Champions League or Europa League knockout rounds.

Despite Nice's interest, there is nothing to suggest that Man United could enter the race for the player who subjected them to another chastening Champions League night, in spite of their lack of output from wingers in the current campaign.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have restocked their attacking department with numerous young wingers in 2023, adding Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Diego Moreira, Cole Palmer and Angelo to their ranks.

Palmer's first reunion with Manchester City on Sunday ended with the England Under-21 international scoring an injury-time penalty to salvage a point in a pulsating 4-4 draw with the champions, leaving Chelsea 10th in the table heading into the international break.