CHELSEA will make another move for Federico Chiesa at the end of the season after failing in their bid to land the Italian this summer.
The 23-year-old, who is currently on loan at Juventus from Fiorentina, played a starring role for Italy when they won Euro 2020 this summer and was included in Uefa’s Team of the Tournament.
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His standout performances attracted the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs, with Chelsea reportedly offering around £85m for the player and Liverpool and Bayern Munich also interested.
But Juventus were not prepared to entertain offers for Chiesa, who is considered ‘untouchable’ by the club’s hierarchy and a vital part of the project going forward.
Chiesa is a just over a year into his two-year loan spell in Turin, with the Old Lady having an obligation to sign him permanently next year for a fee of around £43m.
Juve will make the signing permanent at the end of the season, but will immediately face competition to keep him, with Chelsea already preparing an offer, according to Calciomercato.
Chiesa played 43 times for Juventus last season, scoring 14 goals, including a brace against rivals AC Milan in a 3-1 away win at the San Siro.
The Italian giants have endured a difficult start this season and currently sit ninth in Serie A, losing twice and conceding ten goals in their opening six games.
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After selling their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, Chiesa has become an even more integral part of the Juve attack.
Ronaldo scored 36 goals in 44 games in all competitions last season and the club will expect Chiesa and his teammates to step up and fill the void left by the Portuguese striker.
Chiesa is following in the footsteps of his legendary father Enrico, who is remembered as one of Serie A’s all-time greats after winning titles with Sampdoria, Parma and Fiorentina.
Unlike his father, however, Chiesa has yet to win a league title, with Juventus beaten to the Serie A title by Inter Milan last season, ending their nine-year spell of dominance in Italy.
Given Juve’s poor form and the enticing prospect of playing for the European champions, the Italian club might have a tough time holding onto their young star if Chelsea come calling.
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