Chelsea are reportedly confident of sealing a deal for PSG midfielder Marco Verratti despite seeing a £30 million bid rejected.
According to Kieran Gill of Mail Online, Chelsea have made Paris St. Germain midfielder Marco Verratti their top transfer target in the January window. Blues owner Roman Abrahimovich is reportedly set to give manager Antonio Conte the green signal to splash money on quality players so as to win the Premier League for the second time in three seasons.
Chelsea have made a bid in the region of £30 million, but have seen it being rejected as PSG are holding out for a better offer if they are to let go of their prized asset. The Blues are willing to test the French side’s resolve in January, and are expected to table an improved bid for the flamboyant central midfielder.
The report suggests that the Blues are confident of getting their man next month and Marina Granovskaia, the director of transfer operations, is tasked with the duty of bringing the 24-year-old to Stamford Bridge.
A bid in and around the region of £40 million may prove to be enough for PSG to part ways with Verratti. The player’s agent Donato Di Campli informed potential suitors that his client will be willing to move away from the Parc des Princes should the Parisiens fail to win silverware come the end of the season.
Shelling out £40 million may not be a great ordeal for the Chelsea owner as he is likely to receive a minimum of £60 million from the sale of out of favour midfielder Oscar. The Brazilian is prepared to move to the Chinese Super League and could see a lot of funds added to the Chelsea kitty.
PSG will try to fight tooth and nail to keep hold of Verratti, but recent reports suggest that the player has made up his mind to leave. The 24-year-old is likely to follow in the footsteps of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Luiz who joined Manchester United and Chelsea respectively this summer.