Chelsea are ready to make an approach for Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka this summer, with the newly crowned Serie A champions in danger of seeing their title-winning squad dismantled by a mass exodus.
As reported by Il Mattino, and via Calciomercato.com, Chelsea are set to back incoming coach Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the 2023/24 season and will push for midfield star Lobotka at the request of the Argentine.
The Premier League club have been linked with Napoli‘s Victor Osimhen, currently the top scorer in Serie A this term, but will now seek a double-swoop from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Lobotka’s memorable season
Lobotka has established himself as a key player under Luciano Spalletti this season as Napoli romped to a first scudetto since 1990, with the 28-year-old dictating play from a deep-lying midfield role.
The Slovakia international has been an ever-present for the Partenopei in Serie A and the Champions League, with his reading of the game and his passing range pivotal to Napoli‘s swaggering style of play.
With Chelsea set for a bottom-half finish in the Premier League and looking to rebuild after a woeful season, they are ready to turn to Lobotka amidst suggestions that N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be set to leave Stamford Bridge.
Scudetto-winning squad breaking up
Napoli, meanwhile, have seen their title celebrations overshadowed somewhat by reported discontent behind the scenes at the club, with Spalletti‘s future far from certain amidst a shaky relationship with president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
The Azzurri have assembled a squad of dazzling flair and dominance, but may be unable to hold onto their star names come the end of the campaign, with Lobotka and Osimhen potentially being joined by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in heading for the exit.
Defender Kim Min-jae has also drawn the interest of Manchester United and the Red Devils are willing to meet the South Korean’s €50 million release clause.
