Chelsea have initiated discussions with Juventus regarding a potential transfer for full-back Andrea Cambiaso, according to reports from Di Marzio. The move comes after Marc Cucurella’s unexpected €60 million transfer to Real Madrid earlier this week, leaving a void at left-back for the Blues.
Cambiaso, an Italy international, has emerged as a primary target to fill that position, with the club exploring the conditions of a possible deal. While Barcelona and Como have also expressed interest, sources in Spain suggest that the LaLiga champions are not currently pursuing Cambiaso aggressively, potentially giving Chelsea a clearer path to securing his signature.
However, Chelsea’s transfer ambitions have encountered resistance with Atalanta’s Marco Palestra. Corriere dello Sport confirms that the 21-year-old, who impressed during a loan spell at Cagliari, is unwilling to move to Stamford Bridge. Palestra prefers to remain in Italy and is unconvinced by the Chelsea project, particularly after their failure to qualify for European competition. He is heavily leaning towards a return to his hometown club, Inter Milan, with negotiations for a €50 million transfer reportedly well underway.
Further complications arise with Kendry Paez, currently on loan at River Plate. TyC Sports reports that River Plate are dissatisfied with Paez’s performance and are seeking to send the Ecuador international back to Chelsea. Despite being recalled from a previous loan at Strasbourg in January, the 18-year-old has failed to make a significant impact in Argentina, leading coach Eduardo Coudet to deem him surplus to requirements. The decision rests with River Plate, effectively ending Chelsea’s loan arrangement.
In other transfer news, the pursuit of Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi remains competitive. CaughtOffside reports that while Arsenal are leading the chase for the 18-year-old, Chelsea are still firmly in contention. Although discussions with Arsenal have been positive, a formal agreement on personal terms has yet to be reached, and Bouaddi has not made a final decision. Lille are also expected to delay any sale until after Bouaddi’s participation in the upcoming World Cup, anticipating a further increase in his market value.
