Chelsea set asking price for in-demand midfielder

Chelsea face League Two side Morecambe in the FA Cup third round on Saturday. 

Enzo Maresca’s side had been in fine form during the latter part of 2024, but a run of two draws and two defeats from their last four Premier League matches has seen their already slim title chances evaporate.

Despite this, the Blues still sit fourth in the top flight standings and are on course to qualify for the Champions League next term.

The current January transfer window could be another busy on at Stamford Bridge, and it appears that the club have set their asking price for one of their current players.

According to Football Insider, the West London outfit are demanding a fee of £20 million for central midfielder Cesare Casadei.

The Italian joined Chelsea from Serie A side Inter Milan in 2022, as the Blues’ new American owners splashed the cash during a recruitment drive.

He has since failed to establish himself as a regular at Stamford Bridge, though, making just 17 appearances across all competitions and failing to register a single goal or assist.

The 21-year-old has spent time on loan at both Reading and Leicester City, but he has featured just six times this term with five of those being in the Europa Conference League.

The report claims that Italian outfit Torino are keen to sign the player before the current window shuts, but Chelsea are standing firm and demanding that their £20 million valuation of the player is met.

It is also claimed that Torino cannot afford that fee during the mid-season window, while Chelsea will also insist on a buy-back clause being included in any potential deal.

Casadei is under contract with the Blues until the summer of 2028, having signed a long-term contract with the club when he first joined.