Chelsea and Real Madrid keeping tabs on 21-year-old Bundesliga ace: Reports
Chelsea and Real Madrid are reportedly monitoring RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba. The 21-year-old has made heads turn with a series of impressive performances for the Bundesliga club.
Since arriving from Lyon last summer, the French centre-back has scored once in 49 games across competitions. That lone goal came in 32 outings in the Bundesliga last season, where Leipzig finished fourth. He has appeared eight times across competitions this season, starting seven times.
Despite being contracted with Leipzig till 2028, Lukeba has been the subject of interest of top clubs. As per Caught Offside, the Frenchman is on the radar of the Blues, Los Blancos as well as Aston Villa.
He has a reported release clause of €90 million, but that's set to drop to €65 million in the summer of 2026, when he could be on the move. As per Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg, Lukeba seems to be happy at his current club. But his young age and high upside make him a suitable option for the Blues, who have targeted talented youngsters in the last few transfer windows.
However, with Los Blancos also in the fray, the Blues face competition for Lukeba's services and will also likely need to guarantee him UEFA Champions League football to lure him to Stamford Bridge.
What's next for Chelsea and Real Madrid?
Both Chelsea and Real Madrid have had good starts to the new season. The Blues started life under Enzo Maresca with a 2-0 opening-day Premier League home defeat to four-time defending champions Manchester City.
However, since then, the Blues have lost just once in 10 games across competitions, winning seven. They are unbeaten in seven outings - winning five - since losing 2-1 at Servette in the second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off.
Following a 1-1 home draw with Newcastle United just before the recently concluded international break, Chelsea return to action with a Premier League clash at leaders Liverpool on Sunday (October 20).
Meanwhile, Los Blancos have also had an impressive start to the campaign, losing just once in 12 games across competitions. That lone defeat came on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League, with Carlo Ancelotti's holders slumping to a 1-0 loss at LOSC Lille.
Madrid are unbeaten in nine games in La Liga, where they trail leaders Barcelona (24) by three points. Ancelotti's side return to action with a trip to Celta Vigo on Saturday (October 19) in the league.