Chelsea and Juventus have been reportedly told to shell out €30 million if they are to secure the services of Benfica defender Victor Lindelof
According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Chelsea will have to pay €30 million to ward off interest from Juventus to sign Benfica centre-back Victor Lindelof. The Swedish international was linked heavily with a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer, and the ball could now be in Chelsea’s court should they comply with his asking rate.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte moved to a 3-4-3 after he struggled to bring the best out of his side playing with a back four. Despite winning their first three matches of the season, Conte’s men began to fade when fatigue set in which saw them slip out of the top four.
However, since his switch to a back three, Conte’s side have scored 17 goals without letting in a single shot past Thibaut Courtois between the sticks. Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill have formed an impenetrable wall in defence for a Chelsea which is still to be breached by anyone in England’s top flight.
While they have been solid as a trio, an injury sustained to any one of them could see captain John Terry slot straight into the side. But given his age and lack of pace, he may emerge as an Achilles heel rather than a viable deputy for a first-choice centre-back.
Kurt Zouma too, is on the fringes of a return from injury, but there are still doubts about whether or not he will directly jump into the first team.
Juventus too, are in dire need of quality defensive reinforcements given their ageing squad in that department of the pitch. Andrea Barzagli, 35, is ruled out for the next two months due to a shoulder injury while the 32-year-old Giorgio Chiellini has already suffered two muscle injuries this season and a missed a total of 15 games in Bianconeri’s 2015/16 campaign.
Recent reports have linked the defender with a shock switch to Manchester United. New manager Jose Mourinho has been unhappy with the defenders he has at his disposal, and will be given the money to splurge to bring in quality at Old Trafford. Calciomercato have also stated that Italian rivals AC and Inter Milan are in the reckoning for the Swedish defender.
