Chelsea are reportedly ‘willing’ to splash a huge sum on Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface this summer, with a new No. 9 one of Enzo Maresca’s top priorities for the summer.

The Blues got off to a fantastic start this season but their form has dipped in recent weeks, leaving them at risk of missing out on Champions League qualification.

Maresca is well aware that Chelsea need more quality all over the pitch to become serial trophy-winners again and he wants more competition for Nicolas Jackson, who is currently sidelined with an injury.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Chelsea are big admirers of Leverkusen centre-forward Boniface and are preparing to submit a €70m (£58m, $73m).

The 24-year-old had a sensational 2023/24 season in which he helped Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title by scoring 14 league goals in 24 appearances. The German club also won the DFB-Pokal and reached the Europa League final.

This term, Boniface has once again missed several games due to injury, but has still manage to bag an impressive seven goals in 12 Bundesliga games.

The report claims that Boniface has ‘caught Chelsea’s attention’ even if his performances have ‘dropped slightly’ and he is the Blues ‘priority’. Leverkusen, for their part, could be forced to consider an offer in the region of €70m, it’s stated.