Marco Palestra jets in for Chelsea medical as £43m transfer nears completion | OneFootball

Young Italian to add competition at right-back as Blues court Malo Gusto interest

Palestra will sign a six-year deal, and Chelsea have an option to extend it by a further year, through to June 2033 if they choose.

Inter Milan were the clear frontrunners to sign the Italian until Chelsea swooped and hijacked the deal.

While Inter could not match the wage offered by Chelsea, Palestra’s salary falls in line with the club’s heavily bonus-incentivised wage structure.

Chelsea are understood to appreciate Palestra’s ability to play right wing-back, right-back and to deputise on the left flank when needed.

Palestra, 21, will challenge Reece James and Malo Gusto for playing time at right-back, with Chelsea open to letting the latter depart this summer.

Chelsea are not actively looking to sell Gusto, as Standard Sport has reported this week, but the club have slapped a £75m price tag on his head and several Premier League sides, including Manchester City, are known to admire him.

Any deal involving Gusto would likely have to wait until after France’s World Cup campaign has concluded. Gusto has made one appearance at the tournament for Les Bleus, replacing Jules Kounde eight minutes from time in last week’s weather-affected defeat of Iraq.