Chelsea have reportedly had a €60 million bid rejected by Torino for Italian striking sensation Andrea Belotti.
According to a report in the Daily Mirror, Chelsea have failed in a €60 million cash bid to sign Andrea Belotti in the summer transfer window, with Torino insisting the Premier League heavyweights pay the Italian striker’s buyout clause amount in full.
Belotti has been a revelation in what has been a breakthrough season for him. The 23-year-old has been prolific throughout the campaign, finding the back of the net 26 times in addition to providing 5 assists in 31 matches – making a direct contribution in almost every game.
24 of those goals have come in Serie A – 24 goals that have made Belotti the top scorer in the Italian top flight.
His exploits with Torino have also seen him become a full-fledged Italy international, and suffice to say have caught the attention of some of the biggest clubs across Europe.
Chelsea are one of his biggest admirers, with Antonio Conte eager to link up with his compatriot in the summer. In fact, reports also claimed that the club’s technical director Micheal Emenalo held talks with Belotti over a possible switch to Stamford Bridge on deadline day in the winter transfer window.
Indeed, it is imperative for Antonio Conte to bolster his squad ahead of a return to Champions League action next season, which will demand a lot out of his thin squad. Thus, it is believed that the Chelsea boss will bring reinforcements all across the park, with attack being a priority.
With Diego Costa’s future with the West London club mired in uncertainty, and with Michy Batshuayi struggling to break into the side and set to be offloaded when the transfer window reopens in June, Conte could be in need to bring in a top quality striker.
Belotti has proven himself to be a striker who scores all sorts of goals and possesses immense technical ability that could prove to be useful in Conte’s system at Chelsea. And with his best years still some way ahead of him, “The Rooster” could be a long-term option up front for the Blues.
However, their first attempts to recruit him seem to have failed massively, after Torino rejected a €60 million plus €40 million in bonuses linked to goals, appearances, Champions League qualification and trophies won, as they want Chelsea – or any other club that is interested in him – to pay the €100 million buyout clause in its entirety.
The likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal have all been linked with Belotti in recent months, and it remains to be seen if any of these make a formal offer for him.
Chelsea are certainly interested in him, and they now know that an improved offer must be made to land Belotti in the summer.
