Chelsea lead race to sign 18-year-old Bosnian Alajbegovic

Chelsea are reportedly leading the race to sign 18-year-old Bosnian international Kerim Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen, continuing the club's strategy of investing heavily in elite young prospects. The attacking midfielder, valued at approximately 30 million pounds, is said to be a target for new manager Xabi Alonso, who oversaw his development during his tenure at the German club.

Alajbegovic enhanced his reputation with a notable performance at the recent World Cup, scoring for Bosnia and Herzegovina in a group-stage victory over Qatar and starting three matches, including his nation's round-of-32 defeat to the United States. His club career saw him contribute 13 goals and four assists in 44 appearances last season for Red Bull Salzburg, a spell that prompted Leverkusen to activate a buyback clause this summer. The Bundesliga side now stands to make a significant profit if a deal with Chelsea is completed.

While Juventus has also shown interest, Chelsea are considered the current frontrunners for his signature. Alonso's personal admiration for the player is seen as a key factor. The potential acquisition aligns with a busy summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge, which...