Marco Palestra contract length revealed as Chelsea close in on first Xabi Alonso signing | OneFootball

Blues are set to announce first summer signing of new era

Standard Sport understands the full-back is set to sign a contract that will run to 2032. Chelsea will also have an option to extend it by a further year through to June 2033.

Chelsea are very close to finalising a deal to sign the Atalanta defender for a package of around £45million.

Inter Milan were frontrunners to sign the 21-year-old but the Premier League side hijacked the deal and moved at pace to reach an agreement with Atalanta, convincing the player to come to the capital.

The Serie A side could not match the offer nor wages being offered to the player by Chelsea, even through Palestra will fit into the club’s bonus-incentivised wage structure. The move is now almost done.

New signing: Marco Palestra

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Chelsea appreciate Palestra’s ability to play as a right wing-back as well as a right-back, and the fact he can deputise on the left when needed.

Standard Sport reported last week that the west Londoners are expected to make multiple first-team signings this summer, at least two of which are to be top players able to come straight into the starting lineup under new manager Xabi Alonso.