With reports a deal between Leicester City and Chelsea is close for Ben Chilwell, the Italian media are getting a bit giddy at the idea of their clubs profiting from the deal.
The reason for that is the left-back’s arrival clears the way for Emerson Palmieri to return to Italy, with both Inter and Juventus previously linked with the Italy international.
Gazzetta dello Sport look at the situation on Monday, and make it clear the latter of the two are at a bit of a crossroads, since the decision to replace Maurizio Sarri for Andrea Pirlo has changed some of the club’s targets.
So while we wait and see if the former midfielder would like Palmieri at his disposal next season, Inter have a small window in which to act and potentially swipe the player from under the Turin club’s nose.
Antonio Conte has been after the 26-year-old since January, but the lack of replacements available to Frank Lampard midway through the season made a deal impossible.
However, the arrival of Chilwell changes everything, as his costly transfer is going to force the Blues to make some sales to balance the books.
Gazzetta explain Chelsea are ‘ready to sell’ the defender, and while their valuation is currently at €30m, it’s ‘destined to drop’ since there is no more room in Lampard’s squad for Palmieri.
It’s pointed out Inter’s plan B, should their attempts for the defender fail, is Marcos Alonso, but the newspaper explain the Spaniard is currently ahead of his teammate in the pecking order and is ‘currently not in the discussion’ when it comes to a transfer.
It seems like it’s Palmieri or nothing for the Serie A side at this moment in time.
