Milan announced Charles De Ketelaere yesterday, but they will most likely miss out on two of their main targets for the midfield. Renato Sanches is inching closer to a move to PSG. Instead, Carney Chukwuemeka has officially joined Chelsea.
The Rossoneri had eyed Aston Villa’s 18-year-old, who could have been a bargain since he had just a year on his contact. But the Blues acted more swiftly. He didn’t come cheap, as the total package amounts to £20M, The Guardian reports. The Pensioners might cease pursuing Inter prospect Cesare Casadei following this addition.
Aston Villa and Chelsea can confirm that the clubs have reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Carney Chukwuemeka.
The 18-year-old has been given permission to travel to London to discuss both personal terms and undergo a medical.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 2, 2022
While Chukwuemeka had popped up on their radar recently, Milan had been working to add Sanches to their midfield for months. However, PSG hiring Luis Campos and Christophe Galtier messed up their plans. According to L’Equipe, Lille have accepted a €15M offer from the French champions. They rejected previous proposals to do the deal on loan with obligation to buy.
The Rossoneri are seeking a replacement for Frank Kessié. On top of the duo, they have been linked to Douglas Luiz, whose contract with Aston Villa runs out in 2023, and Pape Matar Sarr, who’s at Tottenham after blossoming at Metz.
Our Take on the Milan Midfield
Sanches would have been a great get since he would have been pretty cheap relative to his caliber. However, the Scudetto winners didn’t have the will of the player in their pocket this time around. Still, having Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer, plus former loanees Tommaso Pobega and Yacine Adli, allows them to search for another option without necessarily being desperate.
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