Chelsea pull out of race for €65m-rated top target set to join European giants

Chelsea end pursuit of Achraf Hakimi who is close to PSG transfer

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Metro), Chelsea have given up their pursuit of Inter Milan defender Achraf Hakimi as he edges closer to a transfer to PSG.

Chelsea have been hot on the trails of the 22-year-old former Real Madrid full-back for a few weeks now. In fact, the Blues also had an offer of €60m rejected by the Serie A champions for Hakimi.

Following that, Thomas Tuchel & co. had offered Marcos Alonso along with the transfer fee as part of the deal to sign the Moroccan international as well. However, this offer too was met with rejection as Inter Milan held on for a bigger only-cash offer, which has come from PSG now. (h/t Metro)

Indeed, as per the report, the French heavyweights have made an offer of €65m, which has been enough to convince Inter Milan to agree to part ways with Hakimi, just a year after signing him. The deal is expected to be finalised and ratified in the coming days.

Furthermore, it is also claimed that Hakimi has already agreed personal terms with PSG, with a five-year deal worth a handsome €10m per season, including bonuses, being offered by the French capital outfit. In addition, Inter are already on the lookout for replacements, with Chelsea’s forgotten man Davide Zappacosta emerging as a target.

All this development has meant Chelsea have now had to end their pursuit of the 22-year-old.

More Chelsea News:

• Transfer News: Chelsea setback in Alexander Isak pursuit
• Real Madrid to reject swap deal for Raphael Varane from Chelsea
• Transfer News: Timo Werner’s agent keeps the door open for Bayern Munich move

Chelsea could have done with adding someone like Hakimi to add cover and competition to Reece James for the right wing-back slot. However, it seems like PSG have beaten Tuchel & co. to the punch. It now remains to be seen if the Blues decide to pursue an alternative or don’t sign any player for the position.