Chelsea make an approach to sign Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella
According to Tutto Mercato Web (h/t Football Italia), Chelsea make an approach to sign Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella after selling Jorginho to Arsenal.
The Blues have agreed on a deal of around £12m to let Jorginho leave for Arsenal on the deadline day. After doing that, they are looking to bolster their midfield options.
The hope is that Enzo Fernandez is done, but that is proving to be a difficult task. As a result, they are down to looking at alternatives. Barella is one of them.
But, in response, Inter have rebuffed the idea as they do not want to lose the Italian international on the deadline day of the transfer window, presumably with no time to find an ideal replacement. The player still has a contract with them until the summer of 2026 (Transfermarkt).
After letting go of Jorginho, Chelsea’s midfield, which lacked depth even with the Italian, needs an addition before the deadline. They cannot rely on an injury-prone N’Golo Kante and hope that the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher and Mateo Kovacic to come good together.
Barella is a mightily gifted player. The 25-year-old is a central midfielder who can operate as a number 10 if need be. He has six goals and seven assists in 25 appearances in all competitions for Inter this season. The former Cagliari player is excellent on the ball, creates chances and can score goals, works hard off the ball and picks up good spaces in midfield.
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- Chelsea are aiming to make one last lunge in the hopes of signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton Hove & Albion
- Tottenham Hotspur will sign Chelsea U21 forward Jude Soonsup-Bell in the January transfer window
- Graham Potter happy with the debut performance of Benoit Badiashile for Chelsea
Although the Nerazzurri may not be interested in letting go of the Italian international, an increased offer could bulge them. If we are confident that the Fernandez deal is not happening, the peddle to sign Barella should be pressed at the maximum capacity. Failing to get both and other possible midfield targets would be a disaster, especially after allowing Jorginho to leave.
