Atletico Madrid turns down Chelsea's £42m bid for 20-year-old breakout star

Chelsea's ambitious attempt to sign Atletico Madrid's rising star Samu Omorodion has hit a roadblock as the Spanish club rejected their £42 million bid. According to The Sun, Atletico Madrid are holding firm on their valuation of the 20-year-old striker, demanding at least £70 million for his services.

Omorodion, a Spain under-21 international, has caught the eye of Chelsea's recruitment team, including Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. The young striker's performances have drawn comparisons to former Atletico and Chelsea star Diego Costa, making him an attractive target for the London club.

Chelsea's new head coach, Enzo Maresca, is keen on adding competition for current striker Nicolas Jackson, who scored 17 goals last season but faced criticism for inconsistency. The Blues have explored various options to bolster their attack, including talks with Newcastle over Alexander Isak and Aston Villa regarding Jhon Duran. However, they deemed Red Bull Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke too expensive.

Omorodion's journey to prominence began at Granada, where he excelled as a prolific scorer in the club's B-team. He joined Atletico Madrid last summer for around £6 million and was subsequently loaned to Deportivo Alaves for the 2023-24 season. During his time at Alaves, Omorodion scored nine goals in 36 appearances, playing a vital role in helping the club maintain their La Liga status.

Atletico Madrid's manager, Diego Simeone, has earmarked Omorodion as a potential replacement for the outgoing Memphis Depay. Simeone has praised the young striker's speed, strength, and goal-scoring ability, viewing him as a future star for the club. With four years remaining on his contract, Atletico Madrid are in a strong negotiating position and is not under financial pressure to sell.

According to journalist Nicolo Schira, Chelsea offered Omorodion a long-term contract until 2031, with a starting salary of €2.5 million (£2.1 million) per year, increasing to €6 million (5.08 million) by the final season. However, meeting Atletico's £70 million valuation remains a significant challenge for the London club.

Chelsea's pursuit of Omorodion aligns with their broader strategy of investing in young talent. The club recently signed Marc Guiu from Barcelona and continues to scout for promising players across Europe. Omorodion's impressive performances at Alaves have not gone unnoticed, attracting interest from several top clubs.

It remains uncertain whether Chelsea will increase their offer to meet Atletico Madrid's demands or shift their focus to alternative targets. For now, Omorodion is set to return to Atletico Madrid, where he will strive to break into the first team and continue his development under Simeone's guidance.