Napoli prioritise swoop for Chelsea star Trevoh Chalobah | OneFootball

Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is a target for Napoli. His future has been uncertain since the arrival of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium three years ago.

According to The Telegraph, “the England centre-back, 26, is Napoli’s No. 1 target to strengthen Antonio Conte’s backline as they prepare for a return to Europe.”

Chelsea have been trying to sell Chalobah for the past three seasons despite the Cobham Academy star playing a key role for the Blues.

After initially sending him on loan to Crystal Palace this season, he returned to Stamford Bridge, where he helped Chelsea finish fourth in the Premier League and win the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Despite his performances, versatility, increasing leadership, and willingness to play a back-up role at Chelsea, the club could still sell Chalobah this summer.

And Napoli are buying. The Partenopei need to strengthen their backline, and Chalobah would be a sensible addition.

He is competent in the air and on the ground. He will learn a lot under Conte and improve in Italy. They have not come forward with an offer, but it could happen soon.

However, Chelsea should be trying to keep Chalobah. He is serviceable and never complained despite some perceived slights from the club over the past three seasons.

The Chelsea centre-back is more reliable than the oft-injured Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana.

Those two should be on the chopping block this summer, alongside Axel Disasi.

Chelsea improved defensively in the second half of last season when Enzo Maresca dropped the defensive block by a few metres.

Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Chalobah looked infinitely better defending less space.

The latter earned rave reviews for one noteworthy performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with teammate Noni Madueke dubbing him “unbelievable“.

Keep Renato Veiga as a central defender in that mix, with Mamadou Sarr waiting in the wings, and Chelsea are set for next season without spending to reinforce the rearguard.

The wise decision would be to keep Chalobah, but with Chelsea desperate to make sales as UEFA sanctions loom, they might accept a bid for the defender.