Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea are reported to be preparing a baffling £60 million bid for Everton's young star Anthony Gordon.
The pursuit of the 21-year-old who is a prime target for Chelsea this summer transfer window has come as a surprise to many Blues fans.
An opening bid of £40 million was turned down by Frank Lampard's side, but Chelsea did not stop there. With a second bid closer to the region of £50 million quickly rejected for Gordon by the Toffees, you would expect the saga to be over.
However, the west London side have not been deterred and remain optimistic that they can get a deal over the line.
Gordon is keen to complete a move to Stamford Bridge and has agreed personal terms with the club.
He wants to play Champions League football and is hopeful a move would increase his chances of making England's World Cup Squad.
In the latest reports, it has emerged that Chelsea are ready to pay up to £60 million for the forward this summer. £50 million of that would be payed initially with a further £10 million in additional add-ons - it is a mind-boggling decision.
While Gordon is certainly a talented player with a bright future ahead of him, £60 million - should the related add-ons be reached - is a more than questionable fee.
Yes, the market over recent years has completely transformed, but even then this is still an unbelievable amount of money to be spending on a player like Gordon.
He has played 52 league games for Everton, scoring just four times and providing three assists.
Having only had one full season in the Premier League, the high valuation is down to several things. Firstly, he is a crucial player for Lampard and co. Secondly, he is just 21 and also a home-grown player, and finally, he has three years left on his current deal.
There is of course an opportunity for Gordon to impress and become a key player at Chelsea in the coming years, but at this point it is essentially a huge gamble on potential rather being proven.
Another major question that has to be asked is if he will even be a guaranteed starter for the Blues. Given the situation the Blues are in, they need signings who are going to come in and directly improve the squad, but with Gordon there is a question mark around that.
Before the west London side decide to splash the cash, they should ensure they complete the signing of a new, experienced attacker and a defender. Both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Wesley Fofana fit the bill and have to be the priorities before the window closes in just over a weeks time.
Where the logic lies in deciding to paying up as much as £60 million for Gordon is very confusing, but it would not be a surprise to see Chelsea complete a move like this.
Thomas Tuchel is being backed in the summer market by Todd Boehly and the new owners. That's the bottom line and the deciding factor.
If, or once Gordon arrives in west London, the pressure will be on Tuchel to ensure he gets the best out of the 21-year-old to ensure Chelsea get return on their significant investment.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Chelsea, Everton, Thomas Tuchel, Premier League, Football
Sam Collins