Chelsea Reach Verbal Agreement With Como Over Trevoh Chalobah Transfer | OneFootball

Chelsea and Como have reached an agreement over the transfer of defender Trevoh Chalobah.

As confirmed by new manager Xabi Alonso recently, Chelsea have always planned to offload some of the centre-backs in the squad.

This became even more important following the arrival of France international Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace.

Chelsea may now have secured their first centre-back sale this summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea and Como have reached a verbal agreement for Chalobah.

The deal is understood to be at €30 million (£25.7m) plus €6m (£5.1m) in add-ons.

Chelsea are also said to have inserted a sell-on clause in the agreement, although the percentage is unspecified.

Chalobah, who has been at Chelsea since he was an Under-9, is claimed to be keen on a move to Italy and playing Champions League football with Como.

Como have had a meteoric rise in Italy, finishing fourth last season and securing a ticket to UEFA's highest tier club competition, just two years after their promotion to the first division.

The centre-back will reunite with former Blue Cesc Fabregas, who left Chelsea in 2019 and is currently head coach of the Italian club.

Chelsea lose versatile squad player, but others ready to step up

Chalobah played a big role under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior last season, having played the most minutes among Chelsea defenders.

In total, he made 47 appearances for the club across all competitions last term, including 31 Premier League starts.

It is worth noting, however, that Levi Colwill's long-term injury absence played a big part in Chalobah's increased minutes.

The 27-year-old's versatility, being capable of playing as a centre-back, a right-back, and a defensive midfielder, made him a valuable asset to the team.

As an academy graduate, his presence in the first team served as an inspiration to the younger generation in the academy as well.

Even so, Chelsea also have another highly-rated academy product in Josh Acheampong, who will likely benefit from Chalobah's exit.

Similar to Chalobah, Acheampong is quite versatile. Primarily a centre-back, he can also play at right-back if needed.

While Lacroix and Colwill are expected to be the primary centre-back pairing under Alonso, Chalobah's sale means Acheampong will probably move up in the pecking order.

Chalobah is unlikely to be Chelsea's only centre-back sale this summer.

Both Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile are expected to leave Stamford Bridge before the end of the window, having been left out of Alonso's pre-season squad for the tour in Australia and Asia.