Chelsea have made an approach to sign Atalanta left-back Marco Palestra, according to reports in Italy.
Chelsea eye £43m move for Atalanta wing-back Marco Palestra
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Cagliari, where he impressed as a right wing-back and helped the club secure a 14th-place finish in Serie A.
Palestra’s performances at Cagliari earned him recognition as Serie A’s best defender, while his average sprint speed of 27.96 km/h made him the fastest player in the division.
His pace and defensive solidity have caught the attention of Premier League clubs.
According to Sky Sport Italy, both Chelsea and Manchester City have contacted Palestra’s representatives to discuss a potential move to England this summer.
However, the report suggests that the defender prefers to remain in Italy and is waiting to see if Inter Milan can reach an agreement with Atalanta.
Atalanta are holding out for a €50 million (£43.2m) transfer fee plus €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons for Palestra.
Inter are in the market for a new right-sided defender following Denzel Dumfries’ expected €20m (£17.2m) move to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Atalanta supporters have opposed Palestra’s exit, putting up a banner outside the club’s headquarters that read: “The doctor ordered: at least one year of Palestra.”
Chelsea are looking to bolster their defensive options after Marc Cucurella’s departure to Real Madrid in a £51.8m deal.
New manager Xabi Alonso, who takes charge on July 1, still has Reece James and Malo Gusto as options on the right side.
However, Gusto has attracted interest from Manchester City, which could force Chelsea to act swiftly in the transfer market.
With competition from both Manchester City and Inter, Chelsea face a battle to secure Palestra’s signature.
The player’s preference for a move within Italy could complicate matters, but the Premier League clubs remain in contact with his representatives as the summer window approaches.
