Chelsea have joined Italian clubs in the race for Hertha Berlin’s Lazar Samardžić.
According to Bild, ‘top clubs’ are hunting for the 18-year-old and the list includes the Blues, AC Milan and Juventus.
It’s claimed the attacking midfielder’s agent is ‘said to have received’ offers from Frank Lampard’s side and the Rossoneri. He’s managed by Marko Naletilic, who also represents Real Madrid star Luka Modrić.
As per the report, the teenager ‘wants to leave’ the Bundesliga side this summer, and Hertha will have to take this issue ‘seriously’.
The player climbed up through the ranks of the German club’s youth system before making his way into their first team in the 2019/20 season. He made only three appearances in the league.
Samardžić’s last appearance came in his side’s 4-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in June. He came on as a substitute in the 34th minute and was replaced 10 minutes into the second half. This incident didn’t go down well with the youngster.
In addition to this, Ondrej Duda’s return from his loan spell at Norwich City, and the presence of Matheus Cunha and Vladimír Darida could limit the Germany U19 international’s playing time. Therefore, the latter wants to hold talks with Hertha sporting director Michael Preetz about his future.
Samardžić’s contract is until 2024 and Bild state Preetz would have ‘little interest in losing’ the player.
However, the question is whether the Hertha chief will be able to resist an interesting offer from any of Chelsea, Milan or Juventus. There’s no mention of the fee needed to convince the Bundesliga side to sanction Samardžić’s sale.
Samardžić has 14 goals and nine assists in 16 appearances in the U19-Bundesliga Nord/Nordost this term.
