Chelsea are reportedly planning a January swoop for Napoli skipper Lorenzo Insigne, as Thomas Tuchel looks to bolster his squad further.
The Blues sit at the top of the Premier League table after a smashing start and will want to go all the way to win the league title.
They splashed big to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan in the summer as well as brought in Saul Niguez on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid with an option to buy. But director Marina Granovskaia wants to back Thomas Tuchel in the winter market in a bid to help his side consolidate the top spot in the league table.
According to Marca, Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne is one of the three potential names in Chelsea’s January wishlist. The other two are Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt and Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde.
Lorenzo Insigne, 30, has spent his entire with Napoli, racking up 114 goals and 89 assists in 411 games across all competitions. However, the Italian international is out of contract at the end of the season and there remains some distance between him and the club over a renewal, with the Serie A club having offered him fresh terms with a 50 per cent pay cut.
This has come as a shock for the 30-year-old and the winger would be willing to move away from Naples if his demands aren’t met.
Lorenzo Insigne to Chelsea – A terrific option for the Blues?
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has an array of attacking talent in his squad, which he has utilised very well since arriving at the club in January. However, the trio of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner have either struggled with injuries or inconsistent form.
After a solid start to the season, Lukaku’s form dipped before he got injured, along with Werner. Mason Mount and Kai Havertz have been the only consistent performers at the top end of the pitch. But if the Pensioners are to go all the way in the Premier League whilst competing in other competitions, they must add more firepower to their squad.
In that regard, Lorenzo Insigne would be a smart fit at Stamford Bridge. A left-winger by trade, Insigne can also operate as a false 9 or as a secondary striker and cause problems to the opposition backline with his burst of pace, dribbling skills and creativity. He is an inside forward who usually likes to operate down the left flank and cut in on his favoured right foot before firing shots on goal or making an incisive pass.
The 30-year-old, who was a crucial member of the Italy team that lifted the European Championships in the summer, is a tricky customer to handle due to his unpredictable movement, on and off the ball, and vision to spot a pass in the final third.
Insigne’s record in Serie A is fantastic, and his productivity combined with the experience and leadership skills would make him a terrific addition to Chelsea’s attack. And on a potential cut-price deal in January, he’ll be a snip for Tuchel’s Blues that is vying on all trophy fronts this term.