Chelsea Close In On Atalanta Defender Marco Palestra After Talks With Inter Milan

Chelsea are set to make Atalanta defender Marco Palestra their first signing for new boss Xabi Alonso after talks that left Inter Milan unable to match Chelsea’s offer on personal terms.

“Chelsea are set to make Atalanta defender Marco Palestra the first signing for new boss Xabi Alonso for a fee in excess of £43m”

BBC

Transfermarkt says Chelsea have agreed a €50m plus add-ons transfer fee with Atalanta, after Chelsea made an offer significantly above Inter’s, and the 21-year-old is expected to sign for the Premier League club.

BBC

The BBC puts the fee for Palestra at "in excess of £43m" and says Chelsea emerged as the 21-year-old’s preferred destination after 24 hours of talks.

The BBC also frames Palestra as a player viewed at Stamford Bridge as capable of playing "on either flank" as a wing-back and more conventional full-back, with Chelsea set to formally have Alonso in place as manager on 1 July.

The BBC reports that after 24 hours of talks, Inter could not match Chelsea’s offer on personal terms, and it says Palestra’s preferred destination shifted to the Premier League.

The London Evening Standard says Chelsea moved quickly in the last 24 hours and are now expected to complete the signing of the Atalanta right-back, with Palestra able to play at right wing-back as well as right-back.

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Transfermarkt adds that Chelsea’s personal offer to Palestra was twice what Inter offered, and it says Atalanta want at least €40m for the player.

The Sun describes Chelsea as having "HIJACKED Inter Milan’s swoop" for Palestra and says the Blues are set to sign the Italian starlet this week, while also stating Inter’s earlier deal was worth £38.8million plus £4.3m in bonuses.

Beyond Palestra, the BBC says Chelsea are targeting at least one central defender and a midfielder, with multiple sources suggesting a deal is close for Strasbourg’s Valentin Barco.

“For many days, it has seemed like Marco Palestra was going to stay in Serie A and Inter were making big progress to sign him”

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The BBC also says a further versatile attacker is on the list, and it notes that players scheduled to move to west London this summer in deals completed last year include £40m winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting and Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha.

The BBC adds that there are expected to be further departures following Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid, as Chelsea look to trim their squad after a season in which they finished 10th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for Europe.

Transfermarkt’s market-value update in December and March describes Palestra as a "modern, attack-minded defender" and says his athleticism, ability to win duels, and precise crosses have caught the eye of top clubs in Italy and Europe.