Chelsea to offload forgotten 29-year-old star – Is Tuchel right to do this? | OneFootball

Fiorentina want Chelsea full-back Davide Zappacosta

According to a report by Italian outlet Di Marzio (h/t Football.london), Chelsea full-back Davide Zappacosta could exit the club in the summer transfer window. Serie A side Fiorentina have shown interest in the player. He was signed from Torino by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte in 2017 but has failed to make an impression.

Things worsened for him under Maurizio Sarri while Frank Lampard sanctioned a loan move for him to AS Roma in 2019. Last season, he was loaned out again to Serie A side, Genoa, where he made 25 appearances. We now look at why Chelsea should make use of La Viola‘s interest and do away with Zappacosta.

The chase for Achraf Hakimi

Chelsea are not very short of depth at right-back. Reece James has been impressive under Thomas Tuchel down that side, with the 21-year-old making an astounding 47 appearances for the Blues this past season. In his absence, however, the German manager fielded Cesar Azpilicueta in that position.

The Spaniard started out as a full-back in his career but has also found space for himself as a centre-back in Tuchel’s back-three set-up. So there is no such impending urgency to get in a right-back, although a signing in that position would afford Tuchel an increased peace of mind next season.

And that is the reason why the Blues have been heavily linked with a move for Inter Milan full-back, Achraf Hakimi, with the Metro reporting that they have already had a £51.5million bid refused for the Moroccan. According to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football.london), Chelsea are still interested and are willing to offer a player plus cash deal for him.

Hence, Chelsea are really interested in signing a right wing-back, with another report by AS (h/t The Mirror) claiming that the club could pursue Adama Traore as an alternative for Hakimi. If the club were confident in Zappacosta, then such moves may not be needed. But that does not seem to be the case.

Sell Zappacosta before it’s too late

The Italian full-back has been surplus to requirements under multiple managers at Chelsea. The 29-year-old last played a Premier League game for the club back in May 2019, more than two years ago. Hence, it is best that Chelsea sell Zappacosta as there does not seem to be a future for him at Stamford Bridge.

Another major factor behind Chelsea’s need to sell him this summer is the fact that he is set to enter the final 12 months of his Blues contract. If he stays on Chelsea’s books past this window and doesn’t renew his deal, he can discuss terms as a free agent with foreign clubs starting January 2022.

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According to The Express, Zappacosta earns £80,000-a-week as per the terms of his initial contract with the Blues. That is a figure the Blues can do without on their salary books. And not to mention, any money they can potentially obtain for him can be invested on targets being chased by Tuchel in the summer.