Denis Zakaria has not managed to impress for Chelsea since he joined them on loan from Juventus on deadline day of the last summer window.
The Switzerland international had to wait until December to make his first league appearance for the Blues and has featured six times so far.
After the World Cup, he was used regularly by Graham Potter, until he suffered a hamstring injury in January. Since regaining full fitness, he has been restricted to three substitute appearances.
Chelsea have an option to make the 26-year-old’s transfer permanent but the tendency is to dismiss it. That’s according to Sky Deutschland journalist Florian Plettenberg, who add the midfielder, at this stage, is ‘likely to leave’ the west London club after this season.
With Zakaria expected to return to the Serie A side in the summer, Chelsea would look to find a replacement for him.
News #Zakaria: At this stage he is likely to leave Chelsea at the the end of this season. Been told the club tendency’s is not to use the option to buy. Therefore he could return to Juventus.
But: #CFC is looking for a new No. 6! One of the top priorities. @SkySportDE 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/rWnJSoJuUg
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) March 16, 2023
The journalist adds signing a new No.6 is ‘one of the top priorities’ for the west London club. He doesn’t mention any details of the midfielders that Chelsea are eyeing for the summer.
