Chelsea Face Bournemouth and Brighton Battle for Bayer Leverkusen Wonderkid Kerim Alajbegović

Chelsea are believed to be in the driving seat to sign Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Kerim Alajbegović, but Bournemouth and Brighton have now entered the race in a bid to snatch one of Europe's brightest young talents from under the Blues' noses, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Stamford Bridge club have made the 18-year-old winger one of their priority transfer targets after his stunning breakthrough campaign and are understood to be pushing hard to strike a deal with the Bundesliga outfit.

But Chelsea's path to the Bosnia and Herzegovina international's signature is becoming increasingly complicated, with both the Cherries and Seagulls now weighing up moves of their own.

Sources suggest Bournemouth and Brighton believe they can tempt Alajbegović by offering him a clearer pathway to regular Premier League football, rather than asking him to battle his way into Chelsea's star-studded squad.

The teenager has rapidly established himself as one of the hottest prospects in European football after enjoying a sensational rise over the past 12 months.

Alajbegović burst onto the scene during a hugely impressive spell with Red Bull Salzburg, scoring 13 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions before Bayer Leverkusen activated their buy-back clause to bring him back to Germany this summer.

Chelsea have already continued their aggressive spending this summer, splashing the cash to sign Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers among five other permanent additions. However, further movement is still expected at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues preparing for more departures to balance the squad. Marc Cucurella and Andrey Santos have already moved on, while Enzo Fernández remains one of the high-profile names still expected to leave as Chelsea reshape their squad.

FEARLESS

His reputation has only continued to soar after a string of eye-catching displays on the international stage, where he showcased the pace, flair and fearless attacking style that have attracted admirers from across Europe.

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso is understood to be a huge admirer of the youngster, having followed his development closely from his time at Bayer Leverkusen, and is keen to make him part of his long-term plans in west London.

The Blues remain confident they can get a deal over the line and are believed to be leading the chase despite the growing list of admirers.

However, Bournemouth and Brighton have built impressive reputations for identifying and developing elite young talent before turning them into Premier League stars, and both clubs believe Alajbegović could thrive in their systems.

COMPLACENCY

That has ensured neither side is prepared to concede defeat, with both continuing to monitor the situation closely ahead of a potential move.

Leverkusen are not under any immediate pressure to sell after bringing the winger back to the club, but a sizeable offer could force them into serious discussions before the transfer window closes.

Chelsea know they still hold the strongest hand, yet they are also aware there is little room for complacency.

With Bournemouth and Brighton now firmly in the mix, the battle for Alajbegović's prized signature is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing transfer tussles of the summer.