Chelsea are ready to make a move for PSG defender Axel Tape, as the highly rated youngster prepares to leave the French giants on a free transfer. The 18-year-old centre-back is attracting growing interest from Premier League sides and Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, with Chelsea keen to add him to their long-term project.
The Blues’ renewed push for Champions League football next season has not stopped their recruitment team from working behind the scenes. A dramatic 1-0 win over Manchester United last Friday has boosted their top-four hopes, but all eyes are already on the summer market.
Gary Cahill, watching the game at Stamford Bridge, praised one standout performer as one of Europe’s finest, a view echoed by teammate Pedro Neto. While those comments focused on current stars, Chelsea continue to plan for the future — and Tape fits their profile perfectly.
Chelsea are looking to sign PSG defender Axel Tape (17) before loaning him to Strasbourg.#CFC [@GFFN] pic.twitter.com/gbOMPAGaYz
Axel Tape has become a sought-after name in European football after PSG made it clear he will not be retained beyond this season. The French club is letting the defender leave on a free transfer, sparking a flurry of interest from clubs looking to land a bargain.
Chelsea are now one of several Premier League sides in the race. Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth have also registered their interest, but the strongest competition currently comes from Bayer Leverkusen. The Bundesliga side are frontrunners for Tape’s signature and hope to finalise a deal before the window opens.
🚨 17-year old PSG defender Axel Tape is set to leave this summer as a free agent.
Bournemouth, Chelsea and Tottenham all want to sign him but Bayer Leverkusen are currently leading the race.
(Source: @SportsZone__) pic.twitter.com/x64lT17tgB
Chelsea’s pursuit aligns with their recruitment model under Todd Boehly and the BlueCo consortium. The club continues to prioritise young talent with long-term potential, especially those available at low cost. Tape, who has developed at one of Europe’s top academies, matches that profile exactly.
Since their takeover, Chelsea’s ownership group has placed huge emphasis on developing a youthful squad. The average age of recent signings has dropped, and players like Axel Tape represent the next step in that strategy.
Tape has not made a senior appearance for PSG, but he has impressed at youth level with his defensive awareness and technical quality. Scouts have praised his timing in tackles and calmness under pressure, traits that Chelsea see as ideal for the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca is expected to be heavily involved in squad decisions over the summer, and he has already shown a willingness to work with young players. Whether Tape would go straight into the first-team or join Chelsea’s development squad remains unclear. However, the plan is to integrate him gradually into the senior environment.
With one game left in the league, Chelsea are closing in on Champions League qualification. They face Nottingham Forest away in a must-win fixture, and their focus remains on ending the season strongly. But the transfer team has already laid the groundwork for the months ahead.
Axel Tape is not the only young defender Chelsea are tracking. Their long-term plan includes monitoring several teenage talents across Europe, though the opportunity to sign Tape for free gives this pursuit extra urgency. Leverkusen’s strong interest complicates matters. The German champions can offer Champions League football and regular first-team minutes. However, Chelsea hope their track record of developing elite defenders will help convince Tape to choose west London.
Axel Tape has emerged as Chelsea’s next defensive target in what is shaping up to be a busy summer window. With interest from Premier League rivals and Bundesliga champions alike, Chelsea face stiff competition. However, with their commitment to building for the future, signing Tape would represent another bold step in assembling Europe’s most promising young squad. A decision is expected soon — and Chelsea will hope to be on the winning side of it.
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