Chelsea have “moved” for in demand defender in last few hours says top Italian insider | OneFootball

After a strong season with Bologna and further impressive showings with Italy at the Euros, Riccardo Calafiori has quickly become Europe’s most in demand defender, at least if you listen to the rumours online.

This morning was been full of chatter about a bid from Arsenal, and now top Italian football insider Gianluca di Marzio has claimed that Chelsea are among the teams who have “moved” for the player in the “last few hours.”

PSG and Bayer Leverkusen are also potentially in the mix for the in-demand defender. Juventus were early favourites, especially as they have now appointed Calafiori’s erstwhile manager Thiago Motta as their new coach.

Arsenal’s position seems to be strongest without question, however. They’ve made a big, they can offer Champions League football and a really established project which looks set for further success over the next few years.

A potential new role in a new formation

We’ve heard repeatedly now from a number of top sources that Chelsea are looking to sign a left footed defender to help the balance in their back line. That makes sense – although one wonders whether in that case they should have stepped back from the free transfer to bring in Tosin Adarabioyo, completed early last month.

The rumours from today that Ben Chilwell is up for sale are also interesting – is Calafiori being lined up as a left back who can invert and play narrow when Chelsea are in possession, much as Josko Gvardiol has done at Man City recently? It’s an emerging trend in modern football, especially in the type of football that Enzo Maresca likes to play, and given Calafiori has plenty of experience at left back, it would all make sense.

The 22 year old won’t come cheap, so shifting Chilwell would likely be an essential part of any move for him.