Transfer News: Chelsea keeping tabs on AC Milan star Alessio Romagnoli

Chelsea are reportedly keeping tabs on the contract situation of AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli, whose current deal expires in eighteen months.

According to a report from 90min.com, Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are closely monitoring AC Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli and have asked agent Mino Raiola to be kept updated on the defender’s contract situation.

25-year-old Romagnoli came through the youth ranks at Milan’s rivals AS Roma but made just 14 first-team appearances for them. After a loan spell away at Sampdoria in 2014/15, the centre-back signed for Milan in the summer of 2015 and has since grown into an integral member of the team.

Romagnoli is closing in on 200 appearances for the Rossoneri, in which he has scored nine goals while registering an assist as well. During his time at San Siro, the Italian has established himself as one of the best in his position in Serie A and has impressed with his leadership skills since being made club captain last year.

The 12-time capped Italian international has a contract with AC Milan that expires in the summer of 2022, meaning he will be entering the final year of his deal at the club at the end of the ongoing season. And, negotiations over an extension are yet to take place.

This has seemingly put Chelsea on high-alert with the Blues’ boss Frank Lampard reportedly being attracted by the prospect of signing Romagnoli in a bargain deal next summer. To that end, he has asked the board to keep a watchful eye on the centre-back’s contract situation – a message that has been relayed to Romagnoli’s agent, Mino Raiola.

Chelsea bolstered their defensive ranks in the summer with the signing of Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr on free transfers. While the former has already become an integral player for Lampard’s side, the latter has been loaned out to FC Porto, where he has done fairly well.

Nevertheless, Silva is 36 years old and is only on a year-long deal. And while discussions over an extension for the former PSG defender are ongoing, Chelsea will eventually need to phase him out of the first-team and bring in a younger option, making Romagnoli an enticing target for the west London giants.

Furthermore, Antonio Rudiger has been linked with a January move to Barcelona. Should that move take place, the Blues will be a member light in their defensive contingent, thus warranting an addition in the summer if not in January itself.

Romagnoli is not the only defender on Chelsea’s radar, with the Blues also keeping tabs on Brighton & Hove Albion’s Ben White, while Bayern Munich contract rebel David Alaba is also an option that they are looking at.

As things stand, Chelsea’s interest in Romagnoli hasn’t stretched beyond the point of monitoring his contract situation. However, if talks between the 25-year-old and Milan don’t progress well, things could certainly escalate.