Chelsea are reportedly eyeing a summer move for AC Milan star Suso, who had a failed spell in England with Liverpool a few years ago.
According to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are plotting a summer swoop for AC Milan winger Suso and are hoping to use midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko as leverage to get the deal done.
The Frenchman signed for Chelsea only a year ago, in a £40 million deal but endured a disappointing debut season in West London. With Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic joining the Blues in the summer, Bakayoko was allowed to join the Rossoneri on a season-long loan with an option to buy, should he impress during the spell.
Having established a good working relationship with the Italian outfit owing to the aforementioned arrangement, Chelsea are hoping to use it to try and sign Suso in the next summer window in a part-exchange deal.
The 24-year old Spanish international is widely remembered in England for his failed stint at Liverpool. Suso was on the Merseysiders’ books for over four years, having signed at a very young age back in 2010. Having linked up with the reserves initially, the winger got his break in the Reds’ senior team in the 2012-13 season, but failed to establish himself.
Suso left Liverpool for Milan in January 2015, after having made just 21 first-team appearances during which he just managed a solitary goal and assist.
Since joining the Rossoneri, the Spaniard has managed to turn things around and has grown into a key player at the San Siro. The 24-year old has featured 97 times for Milan, scoring 15 goals in the process and setting up 27 more for his teammates.
Reigning European champions Real Madrid were offered a chance to sign Suso earlier in the summer, while a return to England was also mooted with Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur reported to be strongly interested in the Spaniard not very long ago.
Chelsea have Pedro and Willian competing for the starting spot on the right-flank, with the former starting the new season on a strong note, scoring three in four league outings. Willian, who was heavily linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge in the summer, has reiterated his desire to continue with the Blues for the foreseeable future.
However, Pedro is already 31 years of age and will be entering the final twelve months of his contract next summer, while Willian turned 30 last month. As a result, the West London outfit are eyeing a move for Suso, in order to build a line of succession for when they decide to move on the senior pair.
Suso still has four years left on his contract with Milan that reportedly contains a £35 million release clause. However, the one-time capped Spanish international has previously aired his desires of playing in the Champions League and would be open to a move to Chelsea, should they return to Europe’s premier footballing competition next season.
