Chelsea have reportedly been asked to fork out €40 million if they are to sign US Sassuolo’s 26-year-old Euro 2020 star Domenico Berardi.
According to a recent report from Gazzetta dello Sport, US Sassuolo are preparing for life without Domenico Berardi. The Italian international has turned many heads with his performances at UEFA Euro 2020, even prompting his wife to urge European giants to consider signing the highly-rated 26-year-old forward.
One of the clubs in contention to sign Berardi are Chelsea, but it appears they may have to fork out as much as €40 million if they are to secure the services of the Sassuolo winger. Borussia Dortmund are also courting the player, but the Bundesliga giants appear to be on the verge of securing a deal for Liverpool target Donyell Malen.
Chelsea themselves are not the only English club linked with Berardi, as the Italian international was earlier approached by Liverpool as well. However, it appears the Reds have set their sights on other alternatives, leaving their Premier League rivals in contention to sign the 26-year-old Sassuolo star.
Berardi is highly renowned as one of the most established attackers in Serie A, having made almost 300 competitive appearances for the club, scoring 86 goals while chipping in with 56 assists. The 26-year-old particularly thrived under Roberto De Zerbi. He was involved in as many as 49 league goals over the last couple of seasons in Serie A, often emerging as Sassuolo’s weapon-in-chief going forward.
Berardi fits the bill perfectly at Chelsea, who are on the hunt for talented wingers who can add more depth in Thomas Tuchel’s attacking disposal next season. The Sassuolo superstar may even turn out to be an ideal replacement for Hakim Ziyech, who is facing an uncertain future at the club despite arriving in England last summer.
Atletico Madrid have been one of the clubs interested in the services of the Moroccan international. His potential departure, combined with the uncertain future of Callum Hudson-Odoi and even Timo Werner, should ideally pave the way for Berardi to become a crucial first-team component for Chelsea next season.
However, it remains unlikely that the Blues would be willing to splash €40 million on the 26-year-old. Although a star of the Euro 2020 campaign for Italy, Berardi certainly does not have the flair and potential of some of his fellow compatriots, including Federico Chiesa, another Chelsea target. And with Tuchel keen on other investments in the summer, a move for the Italian international remains unlikely.