Chelsea FC is set to sign Italian defender Giorgio Scalvini after acquiring Danny Welbeck. The Blues announced the acquisition of former England international Welbeck from Brighton on Saturday. Welbeck, who has previously played for Manchester United and Arsenal before joining Brighton, signed a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge. At 35 years old, he becomes Chelsea’s fourth signing of the summer, joining Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace, and Marco Palestra from Atalanta. However, the high-spending Chelsea are far from finished in the transfer window and plan to secure several additional summer signings for their new manager, Xabi Alonso.
What happened?
According to The Sun, the management at Stamford Bridge has promptly shifted their focus to Atalanta and defender Scalvini. The 22-year-old has made over 100 appearances for his childhood club Atalanta, contributing to the Serie A team’s victory in the Europa League in 2024. Scalvini’s impressive performances have drawn the attention of various European clubs, and reports suggest that Chelsea has directly contacted his representatives to negotiate a potential transfer.
Why it matters for Chelsea FC
The arrival of Lacroix from Palace means Chelsea have TEN central defenders on the books, but Alonso is ready to sell at least five of those. Trevoh Chalobah is closing in on a move to Cesc Fabregas’ Como, Axel Disasi has been linked with a move to Italy and Benoit Badiashile has accepted his Chelsea career is over.
What comes next?
Scalvini is believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League as he believes it is the right time to make the next step in his career. Atalanta, aware of the interest surrounding their player, is reportedly seeking a minimum of £42 million for the Italian centre-back. Chelsea’s newest signing Welbeck scored a career-best 13 goals in the Premier League last season and says he has ‘fire in my belly’ to perform in west London.
Chelsea FC is currently 6th in the Premier League, with 48 points from 32 games, and 22 points behind leaders Arsenal. They have scored 53 goals and conceded 41 this season, with a +12 goal difference. The title race is heating up, and Chelsea FC is looking to make a push for the top spot with their new signings.
The transfer window is far from over, and Chelsea FC is expected to make several more signings before the deadline. With Xabi Alonso at the helm, the Blues are looking to strengthen their squad and make a serious challenge for the title. Only time will tell if they can make it happen.
