Augsburg resigned to losing Baba Rahman to Chelsea

German Bundesliga club Augsburg have started shopping for a new left-back as English champions Chelsea move ever closer to capturing their Ghanaian star Baba Rahman.

ESPN FC reports that the Londoners have virtually agreed personal terms with the 21-year-old Black Stars ace, but have yet to finalise terms with Augsburg. The German club are said to be insisting on 25m euros for the player, especially as they have to pay Rahman's former club Greuther Furth 15% of the transfer fee.

Rahman did not play in Augsburg's 5:0 friendly win over Toulouse on Saturday, with the club citing "muscular problems" for his absence. However his coach Markus Weinzierl has demanded for closure in the matter, telling Kicker that the speculations have unsettled Rahman.

"It's clear that I and all of us here want the facts soon," Weinzierl added in an interview with the magazine.

Meanwhile Chelsea are desperate for another left-back after allowing Brazilian Filipe Luis return to Atletico Madrid. In Sunday's Community Shield loss to city rivals Arsenal, manager Jose Mourinho turned to a centre-half to replace their one sure left-back Cesar Azpilicueta.

"We cannot go to the Premier League with five defenders," Mourinho said. "That's our weakness. The quality is good, but the numbers are not enough."

Meanwhile Augsburg are close to signing German left-back Philipp Max from second-tier side Karlsruher SC for 3.6m euros. Max, 21, also missed his club\'s 2:1 home defeat to St Pauli at the weekend.

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Story by Ghana/Joy Sports/Gary Al-Smith