Chelsea are reportedly interested in continuing their pursuit of Torino striker Andrea Belotti, in an attempt to replace Diego Costa
According to a report by The Sun, Chelsea will continue to chase Andrea Belotti after facing problems with Diego Costa. The Blues are believed to be short by one striker since Diego Costa reportedly refused to report for training at Cobham. Belotti, hence, tops Antonio Conte’s shortlist for potential signings to boost the attack.
While Chelsea have already smashed their club transfer record to sign Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata in a staggering £70 million deal, Belotti’s fee could see them pay a higher price. His latest contract includes an £86 million release clause for foreign clubs, making it a rather expensive affair.
Despite the possible financial strain, Belotti can be a quality addition for the defending champions. He has truly enjoyed a remarkable career so far. The youngster was turned down by Atalanta as a teenager following which he joined Serie-D club AlbinoLeffe, making his debut for the club as an 18-year-old.
He moved to Torino in 2015 but was dubbed a failure since he could not score in his first ten games for the side. However, one goal against Bologna during November of that year sparked a miraculous turn in events for the Italian.
Belotti went on to catch the eye of several big clubs with 27 goals during a stunning campaign last season.
If he does join Chelsea though, he will need to work on his skills while taking penalties. He missed three penalties from the spot last season in the Serie-A. The Blues are likely to have an empty spot up front as rumours emerge of Diego Costa leaving the club this summer.
Additionally, Chelsea will be more suited for an attacking and creative forward like Belotti. The Blues’ need of a quality striker is all the more dire now after a terrible start to their 2017/18 campaign. Michy Batshuayi continues to look out of place spearheading the attack – a fact which is likely to frustrate Conte.
Thus, Belotti could be just the right man to help Conte bounce back from his opening day blues, as the Italian tactician looks determined to move on from the opening day blunder and do well in the upcoming matches.
