Chelsea want £25m Croatian defender as first summer signing amidst interest from Serie A giants

Chelsea are interested in signing Filip Benkovic from Dinamo Zagreb, according to Tuttosport (h/t Daily Star).

The 20-year-old impressed in the Croatian league last season and is valued at around £25m. There are a number of clubs interested in the central defender and Zagreb will not let the player leave on the cheap.

The report claims that we want to make Benkovic our first signing of the summer but face competition from the likes of West Ham United and even Borussia Dortmund.

AC Milan are also interested in the player nicknamed ‘Big Ben’, and the player has been offered to the Italian giants by Beppe Bozzo, an Italian agent.

The report also adds that a summer clear-out is expected at Stamford Bridge once Antonio Conte leaves the side and Maurizio Sarri takes over. David Luiz could be sold this summer and that would free up space for a central defender to come into the side.

Benkovic might be a new name for Chelsea but he could be a smart signing given that he is inexpensive and is a regular for the Croatian side, despite being only 20.

The centre-back played 27 games for Dinamo last season and he could provide cover for Chelsea’s centre-backs in the coming season.

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We do need to freshen up the team and bringing in young players with potential is certainly the right way to go about our transfer business this summer.