Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal in race to sign 20-year-old star Baba Rahman

Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal are among a stellar list of clubs to have registered an interest in signing Baba Rahman from the German side Augsburg, but they have been told the Ghana defender could cost up to €20m (£14m).

The 21-year-old, who joined Augsburg from Greuther Fürth only last summer, has also been the subject of inquiries from Roma, Juventus, Internazionale and Atlético Madrid after an impressive season in the Bundesliga.


But it is understood that he would favour a move to England this season, with Chelsea having contacted his representatives last month over making a potential bid. Manchester City are also keeping tabs on his situation as they search for a long-term solution to their problem left-back position, with neither Aleksandar Kolarov or Gaël Clichy having made the role his own.

Despite the presence of Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal in his squad, the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, has also been impressed by Rahman, who helped Augsburg finish fifth in the Bundesliga last season – the highest finish in the club’s history.

Last week, Augsburg’s sporting director Stefan Reuter insisted they wanted to hold on to a player who still has four years of his contract remaining.

“There is nothing concrete on our table with regard to Abdul Rahman Baba,” he told the German publication Kicker. “We are very happy to have him at our club, we are delighted he is playing for our club. We have been happy to hear him saying he feels great being with us.”

Rahman, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Thursday, returned to pre-season training this week having spent the close season in his homeland.

Credit: Guardian Sport