With only a week left for the brand new Premier League season to begin, a whole host of transfer news, gossip and rumours are circulating about’s Chelsea’s intentions to bolster their already strong defensive unit. The Blues have strengthened their defence this summer by adding Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid and are looking to make a concrete effort to land Roma’s highly-rated Mehdi Benatia, who has been heavily linked with a move to both Manchester United and Manchester City throughout the summer.
Leading newspaper in Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport are claiming that Chelsea have made an official approach to sign Benatia. The London have contacted the officials of Roma while Jose Mourinho believes an offer in the region of €38m will be enough to persuade Roma officials to do any business with Chelsea.
Manchester United have had been linked with Benatia earlier this season, but it seems like Chelsea are putting a better offer for the Moroccan here. Also, there were reports back in June that the player personally wants to join any London club, so unless, Manchester United come up with an extraordinary offer, his future could rest at Stamford Bridge before the transfer window slum shut.
Roma’s Director of Football Walter Sabatini claimed earlier that the club will try his best to hold on to Benatia. He said couple of months ago:
“He is not for sale. I believe that Mehdi has been influenced by his agent (Moussa) Sissoko. He speaks of (a price of) €30m (£24.4m), so we need at least 60, maybe even 61. Anyone who wants Benatia will have to pay €61m (£49.6m).”
The Giallorossi seem helpless here as the lure of joining one of the European heavy weights, plus to play in a top league, is too tempting for any player to turn down, so at best they can do is to sell him to the highest bidder. In this case, it is Chelsea.
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