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According to a report by Football Transfers on Friday, October 16, 2026, Chelsea could be preparing to sign another promising attacking talent, with Strasbourg winger Gessime Yassine reportedly close to joining the Premier League club.
The 20-year-old Moroccan international has attracted attention with his recent performances in France, while former Chelsea goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon has suggested that the winger is practically a Chelsea player.
Chelsea and Strasbourg are both owned by BlueCo, allowing the two clubs to maintain close ties in the transfer market. This relationship has facilitated several player movements between them, with Chelsea continuing to monitor young talents who could strengthen their squad in the future.
Yassine could become the latest player to benefit from the arrangement. According to Football Transfers, he joined Strasbourg from French second-division side Dunkerque in January and initially needed time to adapt to his new environment.
However, the winger has recently impressed, scoring twice against RC Lens in August before providing an assist against Troyes. His performances have raised expectations about his potential, particularly his ability to score goals and create opportunities for teammates.
Despite his age, Yassine has already earned nine senior international appearances for Morocco, adding valuable experience to his developing career.
Lollichon provided the strongest indication of a possible move to Chelsea during an interview with French newspaper Ouest-France, in which he discussed the development of young players and their opportunities to progress.
The former Chelsea coach referred to Yassine’s situation at Strasbourg and suggested that he was practically at Chelsea already, fuelling speculation about a potential move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s recruitment strategy has focused heavily on young players with long-term potential. Their relationship with Strasbourg offers an opportunity to assess emerging talents in a competitive European league before potentially bringing them to the Premier League.
However, the approach has not always delivered immediate results. Valentin Barco, Emmanuel Emegha and Mamadou Sarr are among the players linked to moves between the clubs, although their impact at Chelsea has been limited so far.
Yassine could face similar challenges if he joins the Blues, particularly given the competition for attacking positions.
Nevertheless, his recent performances have strengthened his reputation as a player to watch. Neither Chelsea nor Strasbourg has officially confirmed a completed transfer, meaning the reported move remains unconfirmed.