Chelsea and Bayern Munich are set to battle for highly rated Hoffenheim defender Nicolas Sule, according to ESPN, via Get German Football.
Sule, who has previously been linked with a move to Liverpool, has made an impressive start to the season for Hoffenheim, as Julian Nagelsmann’s side remain one of just two sides still unbeaten in the Bundesliga this term.
The 21-year-old’s performances have not been missed by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, but they have also caught the attention of Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who is still keen to strengthen defensively despite the fact they have kept six clean sheets in their last seven league matches.
Sule still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his existing deal with Hoffenheim, which could force either side to pay over the odds for the defender, particularly if they eye a January move.
The Germany international’s ability to excel in Hoffenheim’s 3-4-3 system will have particularly stuck with Conte, who has changed Chelsea’s fortunes since switching to the same formation.
Of players aged 21 and under in Europe’s top five leagues, only Julian Weigl (2937) and Andreas Christensen (2196) have completed more passes than Sule since the start of last season (2059).
For more stats on Niklas Sule, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
