While Chelsea might be chasing Matthijs de Ligt, Juventus’ refusal to include counterparts in any deal means the Blues are also looking elsewhere.
One of the latest names to be a regular in the transfer rumour columns is that of Milan Škriniar, also a target for Paris Saint-Germain.
It appeared as if the Ligue 1 champions would be uncontested in their attempts to sign the Slovakian, but Chelsea have now joined the party, and Inter could be very accommodating.
This is according to Corriere dello Sport, who report there is very little anxiety in the Serie A side’s headquarters, who appear resigned to the fact they will lose their defender.
Chelsea’s arrival on the scene doesn’t change much, and while ‘the Blues haven’t presented a proposal or talked about numbers’, they have ‘been informed that if they go ahead for the central defender, they will be given special treatment’.
The reason for that is the deal for Romelu Lukaku, and the special treatment being talked about is ‘a discount’.
As for Škriniar in all this, the defender might prefer a move to Paris, where his friend Achraf Hakimi also plays, ‘but he will not get in the way and will not affect the negotiation’.
Basically, if Paris Saint-Germain want him, they will have to make a bigger effort than Chelsea, and will need to do so quickly.
Chelsea, on the other hand, now know they have some kind of advantage over the competition, and could use that to get a deal done sooner rather than later if Thomas Tuchel is convinced he can live without De Ligt.
