Chelsea are in discussions with Juventus regarding a potential swap deal involving forward Nicolas Jackson and defender Andrea Cambiaso, according to reports in Italy. The move comes after Chelsea recently sold Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid for a fee of €60 million, leaving a void at left-back.
Cucurella’s departure was prompted by frustration over Chelsea’s lack of European qualification, with Real Madrid ultimately winning the race for his signature over Atletico Madrid. While Chelsea believe they have sufficient cover in that position, they are exploring options to bring in a high-profile replacement, with Cambiaso emerging as a key target.
Cambiaso has been linked with Manchester City in the past, but Chelsea and Barcelona are now the frontrunners for his signature, though Catalan press reports suggest Barcelona’s interest is minimal. Data from SciSports indicates that Cambiaso would represent an upgrade on Cucurella, making him an attractive prospect for Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have reportedly made a formal enquiry about Cambiaso and are in ongoing talks with Juventus. During these discussions, the Blues offered Jackson as part of a potential deal, recognising Juventus’ need for a new striker. Dusan Vlahovic is nearing the end of his contract, Jonathan David has not made the desired impact, and attempts to re-sign Randal Kolo Muani have been unsuccessful.
Jackson recently returned to Chelsea following a loan spell at Bayern Munich, where he played a limited role behind Harry Kane. While Juventus view signing Jackson as optional, Chelsea are prepared to offer a financial package of €26 million for Cambiaso – covering a €20 million shortfall in Juventus’ accounts and the player’s €6 million wage – but this falls short of Juventus’ valuation.
Juventus are seeking between €35 million and €40 million for Cambiaso, and Chelsea are hoping to bridge the gap by including Jackson in the deal. A loan move for Jackson has also been suggested, though this appears less likely. A swap deal would benefit both clubs, with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso gaining a player suited to a wing-back role and Juventus securing a striker to address their attacking needs.
