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Chelsea tracking £23m Serie A ace but face competition from Man Utd, Inter Milan and Lazio
Chelsea are reportedly among a host of top European clubs monitoring highly-rated defender Marash Kumbulla ahead of the summer transfer window.
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Chelsea are keeping tabs on Hellas Verona ace Marash Kumbulla but face competition from several European rivals for the 20-year-old’s signature. The Blues are just one of numerous top clubs in for the youngster and will have to battle the likes of Manchester United and Inter Milan to secure the signing, according to reports from Italy.
Kumbulla has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough campaign in Serie A, making 18 senior appearances for Hellas this term.
The defender has been a cornerstone of the newly-promoted side’s rearguard, helping Ivan Juric’s men to a surprise eighth place in the table and attracting attention from around Europe in the process.
PassioneInter claim Inter Milan are favourites to sign the promising young star, with Antonio Conte ready to splash out €25million (£23m) on Kumbulla.
The report claims Hellas are already resigned to losing their prized asset but have set this price and could receive more if a bidding war develops.
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Inter have supposedly been tracking Kumbulla for an extended period of time and are at the head of the queue, but fellow Serie A giants Lazio and Napoli are also interested.
The latter reportedly came to an agreement with Hellas over a transfer in January but failed to satisfy the player with their terms.
Meanwhile, there is also said to be significant interest from Germany and England with RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Manchester City joining Chelsea in tracking Kumbulla.
Like PassioneInter, fellow Italian outlet La Lazio Siamo Noi also suggest Kumbulla will move on this summer but believe Lazio are in the driving seat.
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The versatile young defender is being targeted to supplement Simone Inzaghi’s preferred three-man defence, but this report indicates that Juventus are also keen on the rising star.
Kumbulla can play centrally or on the left side of a back three and the report claims the Albanian has plenty of room for improvement due to his young age.
Dejan Lovren and Nacho Fernandez are identified as alternatives for Lazio, although both would cost significantly more in wages.
Kumbulla is contracted until 2022 but fits the profile of Chelsea’s current squad, with Frank Lampard bringing youth players through into the senior set-up.
Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Reece James have all broken into the first team this season while Fikayo Tomori and Callum Hudson-Odoi are also academy graduates with big futures at Stamford Bridge.
However, Lampard could lose several experienced stars when their contracts run out this summer so the Blues boss is expected to be busy buying reinforcements when the transfer window opens.
Hakim Ziyech is already set to join after a £33m switch from Ajax was agreed in January, but Chelsea are also on the hunt for a new left-back, striker and goalkeeper if Kepa Arrizabalaga is sold.
David Alaba, Ben Chilwell, Alex Telles and Marc Cucurella have all been touted for the full-back slot while Moussa Dembele and Lautaro Martinez are the names most mentioned to bolster attacking options.
An £85m move for Leon Bailey has also been touted while Chelsea have been linked with a host of goalkeepers including Jan Oblak, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andre Onana, Dean Henderson and Juan Musso.