Bayern Munich turn down £75m Chelsea star after being ‘offered’ defender

Bayern Munich have turned down the chance to try to sign Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, according to reports in Germany.

The 22-year-old only joined Chelsea last summer from Leicester City on a seven-year contract in a deal worth around £75 million.

Fofana only managed to make 20 appearances in all competitions during 2022-23 after sustaining a serious knee injury which saw him miss around four months of the season.

Chelsea’s planned summer clear-out is well underway and several defenders are expected to leave the club, including club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, with Kalidou Koulibaly already completing his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. Trevoh Chalobah has also been linked with a move to Inter Milan.

However, a surprising report from Bayern Munich reporter Kerry Hau of SPORT1 has suggested Fofana was ‘recently offered’ to the Bundesliga champions, who are now managed by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

Fofana made the big-money move to Chelsea while Tuchel was still in charge at Stamford Bridge, before he was then fired at the start of September.

Tuchel ‘knows and appreciates’ the France international, but Bayern have deemed Fofana ‘too expensive’ and therefore isn’t being considered.

Chelsea are in talks, though, to sell Mason Mount to Manchester United. A third bid of £55 million was rejected recently, but the clubs are set to hold talks to try to resolve the matter ahead of the Blues’ pre-season return next week.

Fofana has been joined by France teammate Christopher Nkunku after his switch from RB Leipzig, while Nicolas Jackson of Villarreal is close to sealing a move to Stamford Bridge.