Chelsea set to battle European heavyweights for Italian star worth £60million

Chelsea keen to beat off rivals to Italian star Federico Chiesa

According to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Daily Star), Chelsea are among a host of clubs keen on Fiorentina winger Federico Chiesa.

Still just 22, Chiesa is one of the best right-wingers in the Serie A. He has made 26 appearances for the Viola this season and has scored seven goals and five assists.

Capable of also playing as a forward, his versatility will give Frank Lampard a number of options. As of now, Tammy Abraham is the only dependable striker in the squad while Michy Batshuayi has been extremely disappointing.

Although Oliver Giroud looks likely to extend his stay at the Bridge, Chiesa will offer a further option up front if needed.

Federico Chiesa
Federico Chiesa has a bright career ahead of him

Attempting to sign the player will not be straightforward with the likes of Manchester United, Juventus and Inter Milan all keen. Chiesa will not come cheap and is valued at an impressive £60million. He still has two more years to go on his contract at Fiorentina.

A telling disadvantage could be the player’s preference to stay put in Italy. This could tilt the pendulum in Juventus and Inter Milan’s favour. A ray of hope could be garnered from the report that claims that the player could be attracted to the Premier League if offered a higher wage package.

Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso has already admitted that the club will not stop the player from moving if their asking price is met.

The quoted price is steep considering the financial implications the COVID-19 crisis has had on football clubs. There is no doubt that Chiesa is a talented winger with his best years ahead of him.

Chiesa scored an impressive hattrick against Roma in 2019
Chiesa scored an impressive hattrick against Roma in 2019 (Image Credits: Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Still only 22, he comes with considerable experience, having played 139 first-team games. He has scored 29 goals and 20 assists in that time. This includes an impressive hattrick against Roma in the 7-1 victory in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals last year.

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Frank Lampard is building a young team at Chelsea that can compete for years to come.

The Blues have a number of talented young players to which Chiesa should be a valuable addition. Whether he makes the move to the Bridge or not remains to be seen.