Daniele Rugani could become the second signing for Chelsea this summer, who are set to make a £44 million swoop for the Italian defender.
After appointing Maurizio Sarri as their new manager, Chelsea have been on a roll in the transfer market, of late. And as the Evening Standard reports, the former Napoli boss could soon make his second signing of the summer in the shape of Daniele Rugani, just days after securing the services of Jorginho.
The English tabloid claims that the Blues are set to make a £44 million swoop for the Juventus defender, who will be given a five-year contract worth £77,000-a-week. The same source further claims that his arrival at West-London could raise doubts over the future of Gary Cahill. The English international is already on the final 12 months of his contract and is reportedly considering leaving the club this summer.
As for Rugani, the 23-year-old defender will be delighted to join the Blues this summer following a rather topsy-turvy season at Juventus.
Despite being regarded as the face of the Juventus defence for the coming years, Rugani has still failed to establish himself as a regular fixture in the starting eleven. The former Empoli defender featured in 22 league games last season, totalling just below the 2,000 minutes mark, which is somewhat unacceptable for a player of his calibre.
Rugani has often being overlooked in place of veteran individuals in Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli, which has understandably frustrated the 23-year-old defender. And with the player being restricted to limited starts in each particular season, a move to Stamford Bridge does make a world of sense.
Chelsea are poised for a squad overhaul this summer, following the arrival of Sarri. The Italian mastermind, known for his compelling style of football, is seeking to usher in a new era at Chelsea from next season. And it is believed that the 59-year-old has deemed the addition of Rugani necessary, with the manager making it a priority to reinforce the central defence.
As iterated earlier, club captain Cahill could be on the verge of an exit from West-London while German international Antonio Rudiger is unlikely to fit into Sarri’s possession-based game. Therefore, Rugani shouldn’t find it too difficult to make an immediate breakthrough into the starting eleven.
The Italian defender will partner Andreas Christensen in central defence and with both players boasting a decent amount of ball-playing qualities, they can easily acquaint themselves in Sarri’s tactical philosophy.
Juventus will also be keen on selling unwanted players as they aim to maintain their wage structure following the stunning coup of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this summer. Therefore, Daniele Rugani is definitely a smart signing from Chelsea’s perspective, should they manage to secure his services.
Meanwhile, the Blues are also plotting a move for Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who, along with Kasper Schmeichel has been identified as the ideal candidates to replace the departing Thibaut Courtois.
