The Strasbourg players Chelsea should sign after Blues owners buy stake

Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have never shied away from discussing their desire to build a new multi-club phenomenon, and the Chelsea owners have now begun that quest with the purchase of a significant stake in Ligue 1 side Strasbourg Alsace.

While the Blues will likely look to use Strasbourg as a development side, similar to the Red Bull or City Football Group methods, the French side have a number of intriguing players who Chelsea should be looking at immediately.

Here's a run-down of the Strasbourg stars who Chelsea should consider.

1. Habib Diallo

There are no prizes for picking Habib Diallo out from the pack.

The 28-year-old striker leaps off the stats sheet after bagging 20 goals in Ligue 1 last season, finishing tied for fourth in the division's scoring charts and keeping pace with some of French football's top marksmen.

Chelsea need someone with that sort of prolific nature and they could do a lot worse than Diallo.

2. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

A real box-to-box menace capable of impacting things at both ends of the field, 24-year-old Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is one of Strasbourg's best kept secrets.

Bellegarde is a diminutive talent who is excellent on the ball and known for just how often he is fouled. He's a central midfielder by trade but Strasbourg have even used him as a winger, such is his dribbling ability. With two goals and nine assists to his name, you can understand why.

Midfield is an area of need for Chelsea but Bellegarde would be an excellent budget option.

3. Habib Diarra

Teams across Europe are starting to take notice of 19-year-old midfielder Habib Diarra, whose stock has been rising ever since he made his debut last season.

Another dynamic midfielder who has been used in a whole host of positions, Diarra has raw talent in all areas of the game and it feels like he just needs an elite manager to help sculpt him into a star.

Players of Diarra's ilk are exactly what Chelsea have been looking for since their takeover and he would be a valuable addition to the project.

4. Alexander Djiku

Star centre-back Alexander Djiku is out of contract this summer and been linked to a whole host of sides, with Europa League champions Sevilla understood to be admirers.

It is accepted that Strasbourg's struggles have not been a fair reflection on Djiku, who is often mentioned in the conversation of Ligue 1's best non-PSG centre-back.

While plucking a defender straight out of a relegation battle might sound scary to Chelsea fans, let's not forget Gary Cahill was second-from-bottom with Bolton when he joined in January 2012, and look how that worked out.

5. Ismael Doukoure

Alongside Djiku in defence, 19-year-old Ismael Doukoure has attracted plenty of fans during his first full season with the senior team.

Doukoure has helped out at right-back and defensive midfield but it's at centre-back where he has really stood out. The teenager looks like a real leader despite his inexperience and has flashed all the signs of a future superstar.

He's not ready for a team like Chelsea just yet, but Doukoure looks like one to watch. If the Blues can keep him hidden away for themselves, they wouldn't regret it.

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