Antonio Conte is keen to bolster his midfield selections with the capture of Fiorentina’s Milan Badelj (Reports from Calcio Mercato). However, interests have been flocking in from elsewhere too as Italian giants AC Milan are leading the race to secure the services of the 27-year-old, with Roma not far behind.
The Croatian has just 18 months left on his current contract and approaches to prolong his stay at Florence have collapsed. Thus, it would be ideal for the club to cash in now rather than losing him for nothing. Badelj was snapped from Hamburg back in 2014 for a modest fee of £4.2 million. He had two excellent campaigns at Germany yet gradually picked up form in Serie A and never looked back since then.
Though, he gathered more attention outside the league during Euro 2016. Despite being sandwiched at the heart of the midfield with popular figures like Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, he did make a stand-out impression. While his midfield mates take up the creative task, Badelj shielded the defensive line and covered lots of ground. His most influential impact was against Spain in the Group E battle for the top spot. With several key players like Mario Mandzukic, Marcelo Brozovic and Modric being sidelined, he managed to command the midfield with confidence and some flamboyant skills was on show too, and the match concluded 2-1 favouring the Croatians. He was then hugely linked with another London club, Tottenham Hotspur but rumours failed to turn real.
On the other hand, Chelsea’s midfield are infused with ample quality yet Conte knows quantity too plays a pivotal role, especially in the Premier League title chase. With John Obi Mikel nearing his career end at Stamford Bridge after 10 years and closely being linked with Manchester United, he would be an essential member to impose a healthy competition for current starters, Nemanja Matic and N’golo Kante.
The most important trait that makes the Croatian the type of defensive midfielder Conte should pursue is his prowess towards his primary task. He does not venture forward unnecessarily, rarely gets caught out of position and astutely nullifies opposition attacks. Which indeed would offer attackers like Eden Hazard and Pedro a field day, just like they have been gamboling in the last 8 matches.
The west London club has signed Juan Cuadrado in 2015 and Marcos Alonso back in the summer from Fiorentina and is believed that both clubs do have a good relationship. Chelsea are free to bid in the upcoming transfer window yet AC Milan hold an upper hand, according to the player’s agent.
“I honestly do not know. We talk about a lot of teams interested in him. But I promised that Milan do not talk with any club on January 1.
“We do not know if Fiorentina will it sell in January or not,” said Dejan Joksimovic.
This statement not only draws air of skepticism over the future of the Croatian, it also alerts other clubs to pile in offers.
This season, Milan Badelj has been continuing to prove as a key player for Paulo Sousa’s team which has also helped his stock to mount higher. He certainly would be a good signing for Chelsea.