Chelsea ramp up interest in Strasbourg striker ahead of multi-club ownership decision | OneFootball

Chelsea are reported to be intensifying their interest in signing Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha this summer.

Emegha joined Strasbourg, also owned by Chelsea owners BlueCo, in the summer of 2023 and has enjoyed his strongest season to date under new manager Liam Rosenior. 14 goals and three assists in 27 games have helped push Strasbourg into the race to qualify for the Champions League.

The 22-year-old's form has caught the eye of a number of sides across Europe, with Newcastle United previously named as suitors, but Chelsea are known to be keeping a close eye on Emegha's development with their sister side.

Foot Mercato state things have ramped up and Chelsea have held talks with Emegha over a summer switch to Stamford Bridge. A long-term contract has been discussed and an agreement over transfer fee is unlikely to prove problematic given the two clubs share ownership.

Chelsea are looking at a number of other strikers, with Ipswich Town's Liam Delap thought to be a key target, but David Ornstein of The Athletic notes Emegha has "definitely been a consideration for some time".

BlueCo own both Chelsea and Strasbourg / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages

Any agreement between the two clubs could raise eyebrows because of the nature of their ownership, which is set to come under the spotlight this summer if both Chelsea and Strasbourg qualify for the Champions League.

Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League - good enough to qualify - while Strasbourg's recent victory over Paris Saint-Germain put them sixth in an incredibly tight race in Ligue 1. Rosenior's side are just two points behind Marseille in second and boast favourable fixtures to end the campaign.

UEFA rules state two clubs competing in the same European competition cannot share ownership or complete any transfers and BBC Sport notes there are already plans in place to ensure BlueCo do not breach any regulations.

If both clubs qualify for the Champions League, BlueCo are prepared to give control of Strasbourg to a "blind trust", an acceptable method which INEOS, owners of Manchester United and Nice, and City Football Group, owners of Manchester City and Girona, have used to ensure their clubs are governed independently.