After reports that Cesc Fabregas could head to AC Milan in exchange for Mattia de Sciglio yesterday, it now appears that there could be another Italian swap deal on the cards. CalcioMercato claim that Lichtsteiner is unhappy at sitting on the bench whilst Dani Alves is first choice right back in Turin, and that the Blues are desperate to get rid of Ivanovic before his contract expires in the summer.
The move may make sense on paper, and may offer Lichtsteiner the first team football they require, but it remains to be seen if Ivanovic can be convinced. The Serbian has been a loyal servant to the Blues and is likely to appreciate being forced out of the club, but there are few places better to go to than Juventus.
One unsuccessful deal in the summer was the move for Napoli centre-half Kalidou Koulibaly as the club’s president Aurelio De Laurentis confirmed that he turned down a £58 million bid for their man late on in the window. Koulibaly then signed a new deal to take him to 2021, but De Laurentis said that it does not mean he will definitely stay in Napoli as he told Sky Sports:
“They offered to me £30, 35, 40, 45, 50 [million],. ‘Mr. Conte,’ I said, ‘[The] marina is behind me, follow me’, I offered him that. Last moment, two days before the closing of the market, I hear £58 [million] – something like that… Koulibaly I need here to make the match. I need to play, so I need the players. Koulibaly, this year, will remain here. Next year we will speak about.”
The Blues could return for their former target in January or once again next summer, but it seems that the rejection from Napoli was what put the wheels in motion to see David Luiz return to his former stomping ground and there may now be no room for Koulibaly.
The Express claim that another target could be set to move elsewhere as former Juventus defender Martin Caceres is set to sign for West Brom on a free transfer, having been linked with a short-term move to London to see him provide cover for his former boss Antonio Conte.
Caceres was never too high up the club’s list of targets and has a bad record with injuries in recent years, but the club may not be too happy to see a potential option taken off the market with their defence looking shakey.
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