Promoted to Rapid Vienna’s first-team this season where he’s made a couple of appearances in the first-team, Austrian midfielder Melih Ibrahimoglu has many suitors.
Among those, according to Calciomercato.it, are Roma and Chelsea, who are following the 19-year-old’s progress.
The Italian website explain the Italian side have set their eyes on the young player, who is seen as ‘one of the most promising talents of his generation’, and with a contract expiring in 2021, a sale could be looked at at the right price.
They explain Roma will have to see off competition from ‘several Italian and European teams, including Chelsea’ for his signature, and it’s believed a bid of €3.5m could be enough to convince Rapid Vienna in the summer.
This all comes amid criticism in the Italian media aimed at the project put together by the Serie A club’s Director of Football Gianluca Petrachi, where it’s believed the focus of future purchases shouldn’t be young, promising players.
As for Chelsea, they have a very long reputation of hoovering talent around Europe, bringing them to Stamford Bridge to then loan them out until they can either make a profit or deem them ready for the first-team.
However, with Frank Lampard in charge, there now might be more of a chance for youngsters these days.
Perhaps that’s something Ibrahimoglu might think about if it comes down to either moving to Italy or the Premier League.
