According to L’Equipe, teenage defender Tylel Tati has snubbed Chelsea’s approaches and decided to stay at Nantes for the remainder of the season. Chelsea had been scrambling about for a late defensive signing to suit their cause, but it appears they may have failed with an unofficial €30 million offer for the 18-year-old defensive sensation.
Chelsea have been scrambling to get a young defender locked down for the future, with the French market their top priority. The Blues had been chasing Rennes’ Jeremy Jacquet for many weeks now, but the defender has now decided to join Liverpool ahead of the summer.
With Liverpool accelerating talks for Jacquet over the last few days, Chelsea may have pivoted towards an alternative. Nantes’ Tylel Tati emerged as a target, with suggestions earlier on deadline day pointing towards a €30 million offer from Chelsea.
The Blues have been embroiled in shifting players from different destinations to suit their cause, with the recall of Aaron Anselmino and then his subsequent loan switch to Strasbourg a key example. Similarly, they have brought Mamadou Sarr from the Ligue 1 side to Stamford Bridge, as in Tati’s case, they may have wanted him to join Gary O’Neil’s side initially for the remainder of the season.
Chelsea did face a stumbling block owing to reports stating Tati wanted a switch to Stamford Bridge over joining Strasbourg. Given there was widespread interest in the 18-year-old Frenchman earlier, Nantes might feel a big transfer for Tati could be on the cards next summer, as they might have been happy to keep him.
It appears Tati has indeed snubbed Chelsea’s advances despite the €30 million bid, which was reportedly unofficial as per the story. The French defender prefers to stay put at Nantes and help his boyhood club out of their relegation battle.
A move to Chelsea via RC Strasbourg might have been a big step, but the player is leaning towards developing at Nantes with the regularity with which he is playing football. For now, the teenage sensation is expected to stay put a Nantes for the remainder of the season, as Chelsea are likely to miss out for now.
