Chelsea could be forced to pay more than €60m if they want talent they could have had for free a year ago | OneFootball

Chelsea are being linked with a bid for Marcus Thuram, the Inter Milan striker who has helped fire them to the Serie A title this season.

Despite their successes on the pitch, Inter have their fair share of financial problems and would likely have to accept any solid bid for stars like Thuram. Caughtoffside say we, along with Arsenal and Man U, are seriously interested.

The 26 year old would be a dream option for us in many ways. He’s two footed, and can play on the left wing or as a number 9, much like Nicolas Jackson. This year he’s racked up 14 goals and 13 assists, many of them in massive games, as he’s played his part in helping Simone Inzaghi’s team win the league.

Bad planning to cost us more money

Thuram is a really good player, as he’s proven by taking this step up to star for Inter this year. But what is frustrating is that he was out there on the market for free a year ago, and we let him move uncontested.

We had Jackson in the bag, we just needed an alternative for an affordable price. What could have been better than Thuram on a free? But instead we let him slip through our fingers, and now if we want him we will have to pay serious money. Transfermarkt value him at €60m.

Perhaps it was because the attacker was already 25, breaking our sporting directors’ ill-fated rule about what age players they want.

If we want to operate in a smart (and profitable) way, we’re going to have to start being a little more clever with these deals. Getting one step ahead rather than one step behind is the difference between signing a player for free on a reasonable contract, or paying serious money for a proven star, which is what we would be doing now.