As Premier League outfit Chelsea prepare for a mass exodus of players in the summer to make way for another spree of new arrivals under Todd Boehly, up to six potential departures have been linked with moves to Serie A.
One of them is already playing in Italy. Romelu Lukaku is still the topic of hot debate among Inter and Chelsea fans alike as there is still uncertainty over the Belgian’s future in either London or Milan with impending arrivals of new coaches expected at both clubs.
A permanent deal for the ‘Big Rom’ remains unlikely given that he is under contract until 2026 and that it cost the West Londoners €113 million to buy him from Inter in the first place. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there will be talks between Inter and Chelsea over Lukaku’s future in the coming weeks.
Another who has already plied their trade in Serie A and could be on their way back is Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegal national team captain’s first year in England hasn’t exactly gone to plan since his arrival from Napoli last summer, largely due to injuries and partly because of the signings of the younger Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.
Gazzetta has recently claimed that Massimiliano Allegri and Juventus are interested in bringing Koulibaly back to Italy as they look for an established centre-back in the summer.
Kepa Arrizzabalaga is also on the outgoing list. Chelsea made the Spaniard the most expensive goalkeeper in history when they brought him in from Athletic Club for €80 million (£71m) in 2018.
But the Blues are ready to move on and have been reported to be dreaming of landing Inter’s Andre Onana. Chelsea could offer Kepa as part of a player-plus-cash deal in the summer as per recent reports.
Hakim Ziyech is another whose name has cropped up in the Serie A conversation a few times in recent months. The Moroccan international is almost certain to move on from Stamford Bridge in the summer, whether it be permanently or on loan.
Roma and Milan are two of the clubs who have been linked with a move for the former Ajax winger over the last few months.
For similar reasons to those of Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah could also be let go by the Chelsea hierarchy in the summer. Inter and Milan have both been linked with a move for the 23-year-old in La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Rossoneri in particular have recent history with signing young English central defenders from Chelsea.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also almost guaranteed to leave Chelsea in the summer. The Gabonese striker was omitted from the Champions League list in January and has rarely featured in the league since then, either.
Large portions of Aubameyang’s family still live in the city of Milan and both the Rossoneri and more seriously, the Nerazzurri could be interested in making him an offer.