Chelsea are aiming to strengthen their roster for the 2025/26 season in the upcoming summer transfer window. Enzo Maresca wants a team that can challenge the Premier League title while getting back to the Champions League next season.
Therefore, they have scouted many talents. One such talent, who has caught every top European club’s attention is, Konstantinos Karetsas. Clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich have monitored the Genk FC attacker.
The 17-year-old Greece international grabbed more headlines when he dropped a masterclass performance against Scotland last month. He played on the right flank and scored a goal in his team’s 3-0 win in the Nations League fixture.
A recent report on Daily Briefing by BILD journalist, Christian Falk, suggests that Chelsea are one of the front runners to sign the 17-year-old Genk forward,d while clubs like Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Udinese are keeping tabs on him.
Chelsea have held talks with Karetsas’ agents, and the report suggests that the Premier League giants are ahead of Bayern Munich in their race to sign the Greek forward. The Bavarians have just shortlisted the youngster due to Vincent Kompany’s interest in him.
Bayern are yet to make contact with the youngster’s entourage. As per Falk’s reports, Genk are supposedly placing a €40 million (£34m) price tag on the versatile forward, who has a contract till 2027.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Who is the Greek sensational Konstantinos Karetsas?
Karetsas initiated his career at the Genk academy before moving to their Belgian rivals Anderlecht in 2020. After two and a half years at Anderlecht, he returned to Genk in the 2023 January transfer window.
At first, he featured for Genk’s U-23 teams where he caught the eye of the club coaches and eventually went on to make his first-team debut in May 2024. Since then, he has featured 35 times for the Belgian outfit.
Karetsas has made 31 appearances in the 2025/26 season in all competitions whilst scoring three goals and providing four assists.
He was born in Belgium to Greek parents and therefore decided to play for Greece. He broke Lamine Yamal’s record with his strike against Scotland, as he became the youngest player to score a goal in the UEFA Nations League.
While Karetsas is far from a finished player, his technical abilities like ball control, dribbling, creativity and vision have caught the eye of several scouts and coaches.
He is matured beyond his years and can play in multiple positions in attack, making him ideal for many top European clubs.
MORE: Arsenal and Chelsea eye former Real Madrid youth Star as release clause sparks transfer battle
