Chelsea learn asking price of 22-goal PL striker Igor Thiago
The 24-year-old striker is wanted by a boatload of clubs.
The name on everyone’s lips this season has been Igor Thiago, and it is no longer just Brentford who are paying attention. The 24-year-old Brazilian has scored 25 goals in 36 appearances this campaign, 22 of those in the Premier League alone (giving Haaland a run for his money – 24 goals for the Norwegian), and a report from ESPN Brazil journalist Felipe Silva has confirmed that Chelsea are one of four clubs to have made a formal enquiry about his availability. Atletico Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan are the other three, though Silva believes Italian interest is unlikely to translate into a concrete bid given that neither club is expected to match Brentford’s asking price.
That asking price, according to Silva, is in the region of £80 million. Given what Thiago has done this season, Brentford have every right to hold firm. He broke the record for the most goals scored by a Brazilian in a single Premier League season back in January, and he has only added to that tally since. In a week where he scored United’s second in the 2-1 win over Man United at Old Trafford on April 27, the timing of this report feels deliberate. Brentford know the summer will be difficult, and they are setting expectations early.
Chelsea’s striker situation makes Igor Thiago an attractive option
The context behind Chelsea’s interest matters. Nicolas Jackson will return from his loan at Bayern Munich this summer after the German club chose not to exercise their purchase option, but his future at Stamford Bridge looks bleak. Emmanuel Emegha has already been signed from Strasbourg and will arrive in the summer, which means Chelsea could have five strikers on the books come pre-season.
Journalist Nizaar Kinsella has reported that at least two will be sold, with Jackson, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu all candidates to leave. A new head coach, whoever that turns out to be, will almost certainly want their own input before any final decisions are made. Thiago, with his age, output and Premier League pedigree, would tick every box.
