Chelsea close to winning race for Inter midfielder Cesare Casadei

Chelsea are close to winning the race to sign Internazionale’s highly rated midfielder Cesare Casadei and are pushing to complete the signing of the 19-year-old this week

CLOSE: Chelsea are rumoured to be close to sigining Cesare Casadei of Inter Milan. Pic: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Chelsea are close to winning the race to sign Internazionale’s highly rated midfielder Cesare Casadei. Nice have also targeted Casadei, but it is understood Chelsea are pushing to complete the signing of the 19-year-old this week. They have had two bids rejected and are expected to be successful with their third offer, which could be as much as £12m.

The pursuit of Casadei is further evidence of Chelsea’s determination to bolster the young talent on their books. This summer they have signed the 18-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina from Chicago Fire and midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, also 18, from Aston Villa for £20m. They are interested in the Palmeiras prodigy Endrick, though the Brazilian is being courted by many of Europe’s top clubs.