Chelsea have sounded out to Inter Milan regarding their interest in Denzel Dumfries, with the wing-back available for €40 million.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport via Sport Witness, Chelsea are keen on Denzel Dumfries and have enquired about the defender’s availability. Inter Milan consider him an important player, although they could entertain offers around the €40 million mark.
Chelsea’s failures in the transfer window have left a sour taste among the fanbase as well as their manager, Thomas Tuchel. The German tactician recently insisted he had urged the club to make quality additions to the roster at the earliest as he saw his team thrashed by Arsenal in the United States.
Having signed Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly, Tuchel still has plenty of areas to cover, and the club’s constant failure in this window has become problematic. Many of their preferred targets like Raphinha, Matthijs de Ligt and Jules Kounde, among others, have turned their back on Stamford Bridge, choosing to join other sides.
While reinforcements in attack and midfield are being considered, Tuchel’s primary focus is to shore up the defence. After suffering failures in their attempts to lure Nathan Ake, who chose to remain at Manchester City, Chelsea suffered a setback in their pursuit of Kounde, who is on the verge of Barcelona.
Tuchel has switched his attention towards Denzel Dumfries, who plays as a right-sided wing-back for Inter Milan. The Blues were previously interested in the Netherlands international but had cooled off their chase in pursuit of other players. However, they are ready to revive contacts for the Dutchman, having already made enquiries regarding his availability.
Inter Milan consider Dumfries an important part of their team, although their ongoing financial struggles could force them to sanction a sale. However, a move for the Dutchman would only be allowed if Chelsea cough up €40 million, representing a massive profit over their investment last summer.
Chelsea may consider the price a bit steep, although Tuchel will see his signing as a necessity amid question marks over the future of Cesar Azpilicueta, which would leave them thinly stretched in the wing-back position. Alternatively, following their failures to sign central defenders, the manager could look to use Dumfries as a wing-back and probably push Reece James into central defence.
With the Premier League season just two weeks away, Tuchel desperately needs defensive reinforcements. But with Manchester United also in the race for Dumfries, Chelsea will need to move swiftly.
