Chelsea 'asking price' concerns Serie A side as 'bid submitted' for midfielder

Chelsea are now preparing for an away clash with Crystal Palace after a festive period to forget. The Blues failed to win any of their three festive games, losing twice and drawing once, dropping away from the title race as a result.

The good news for Enzo Maresca’s men is that they still have a three-point advantage over Newcastle United in fifth, and securing a top four spot will be the club’s priority this season. In the meantime, we have rounded up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Stamford Bridge.

Chukwuemeka price

Chelsea are said to have a big asking price for midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who is likely to leave the club in the January transfer window. The Blues are reportedly asking for £30million amid reported interest from AC Milan and others.

Caughtoffside report that Chelsea’s need to sell could see their asking price reduce in the final week of the window, but their price remains firm at this point. That could complicate a deal, with Milan and others unlikely to pay so much for a player who is still relatively unproven, while he is also likely to be somewhat rusty having struggled for game time this season.

Casadei offer

Chelsea have reportedly received an offer for midfielder Cesare Casadei, who is struggling to even make the team’s first team squad at this stage. According to Gianluca di Marzio, Serie A club Lazio are interested to the point of submitting an offer, and a permanent one at that.

Casadei was being linked with a loan move, with Maresca still liking the midfielder, but he needs football, and he does not look likely to get it in the near future at Stamford Bridge. The report claims the Blues could attach a buy-back clause in any Casadei deal, unwilling to risk missing an opportunity should the midfielder kick on and fulfil the potential the Blues saw in him initially.

Mikel on Gusto

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel says Blues full-back Malo Gusto reminds him of club legend Cesar Azpilicueta. “I like Malo Gusto. For me, he’s Mr Consistency, a little bit like [Cesar] Azpilicueta, isn’t he?,” he told his Obi One Podcast.

“But I have no idea why the manager sometimes drops him and plays Disasi there.” Gusto has made 18 appearances for Chelsea this season, with 16 of them coming in the Premier League.