Chelsea are reportedly readying a £20 million bid for Brescia youngster Sandro Tonali, who is on the radar of several Serie A clubs.
Sandro Tonali is the latest Italian to be linked with a move to Chelsea. The Brescia youngster is already drawing interest from Serie A giants Juventus and AS Roma. But, according to The Sun, the Blues are prepared to stump up £20 million in order to prise the defender away from the aforementioned suitors.
There’s a new Sandro in Italy that is starting to grab attention. The affirmative word in the previous sentence is that he is just starting, with lots of room to grow.
Currently plying his trade for Serie B side Brescia, Lombardi-born Sandro Tonali is a product of the Brescia academy setup. The midfielder received his senior debut at the age of 17 in the 2017-18 season, coming on as a substitute in a league defeat to Avellino, and has never looked back since.
Now a regular fixture within the Brescia first-team setup, Sandro Tonali is tearing it up in Serie B. The 18-year-old has started all seven league games so far, with three assists to his name already. With 10 appearances for the Italian Under-19 team and a potential call-up for the Italy Under-21 in the wings, the midfielder is drawing interest from the top tier.
Juventus and AS Roma are monitoring his performances closely. The Italian giants have always been keen to get their hands on the best up-and-coming players within the region and are set to wage a war for the 18-year-old nifty midfielder. But, Chelsea might have something to say in the transfer battle.
Maurizio Sarri might not have a dearth of midfielders at his disposal. Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic have looked an incredibly strong trio thus far. Ross Barkley is starting to blossom while Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Cesc Fabregas are continuously knocking on the door for more opportunities, impressing whenever selected.
But, the Sarri revolution at Stamford Bridge might hit a bit of a snag soon, as far as midfield is concerned. Cesc Fabregas is unlikely to be satisfied with a bit-part role at the club and is already being linked with a move away from the club. Loftus-Cheek could, realistically, go on loan in search of more first-team opportunities, perhaps within the Premier League itself.
While a move for Sandro Tonali could make sense in the long-term, the aforementioned could see the 18-year-old’s arrival make up for the potentially lost numbers in midfield. £20 million for an 18-year-old has become a run-of-the-mill fee in the current market conditions.
With the hype that Tonali has been able to generate owing to his displays in Serie B, the move would make sense for Chelsea. But, it could come down to a matter of preference for the Brescia youngster, with Juventus and AS Roma also interested.
Even if Chelsea might lodge a bid, should either of Juventus or AS Roma match the amount, Tonali could be tempted to continue his progress within Italy for the time being, at least.
