Chelsea and Man City intensify chase for Club Brugge’s 12‑goal striker

Chelsea and Manchester City have sharpened their pursuit of Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi, one of Europe’s hottest forwards, after the 22‑year‑old netted a hat‑trick in Sunday’s 3‑2 victory over Sint‑Truidense, raising his season tally to 12 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions so far.

The triple comprised a left‑foot strike, a right‑foot finish within two minutes and a third goal in the 75th minute. It marked Tresoldi’s third hat‑trick in the past 26 days, following similar feats against Inter Milan in the Champions League and against Malta for Germany’s Under‑21 side. The forward, born in 2004, is 22 years old.

Seven of his 12 seasonal goals arrived in October, putting him level with Norman Bassette of Westerlo at seven goals each, the joint top‑scorers in the Jupiler Pro League. Club Brugge sit one point behind leaders Gent after nine matchdays.

Scouting mission confirmed

TEAMtalk reported that representatives from both Chelsea and Manchester City were scheduled to watch Tresoldi’s performance against Sint‑Truidense as part of their assessment of future striker options. Both clubs view the match as a chance to assess his performance against a strong Belgian side.

Chelsea’s interest is driven by a desire for greater depth behind João Pedro, whose recent absence highlighted a shortage of alternatives. João Pedro remains the Blues’ preferred striker.

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Manchester City’s approach is more long‑term, with the club seeking a successor to eventually succeed Erling Haaland. Nobody is expected to replace Haaland immediately, and elite clubs plan years ahead.

Transfer price and contract

Club Brugge have made clear they will not sell Tresoldi in the January window and expect any eventual deal to break the Belgian transfer record. The forward is tied to the club until 2029, and his valuation could exceed €50million if his scoring rate continues.

Brugge acquired Tresoldi from Hannover in 2025 for €7.5million, and his recent exploits have attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and AC Milan. Owner Gerry Cardinale has instructed the management to explore terms and contact the player’s agents, with wage negotiations slated for January or, at the latest, the summer.

UEFA highlighted Tresoldi in its Champions League ‘Priceless Moments of the Week’ after his earlier hat‑trick helped Club Brugge overturn Inter Milan 4‑3 at the San Siro. The accolade underscores his impact against top‑level opposition.

Scouts note his blend of penalty‑box movement, physical presence and increasingly reliable finishing, especially against strong opponents rather than merely domestic rivals. Such attributes make him one of Europe’s most coveted young forwards.