Chelsea keen to sign breakout Euro 2024 star, have made important salary offer to the player - Reports

Chelsea are reportedly keen on signing Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, according to journalist Alfredo Pedulla. As per the report, the Blues have already made a salary offer to the player.

Calafiori's rise to stardom comes in the wake of his impressive performance with the Italian national team at the Euro 2024 tournament. He played a key role for Luciano Spalletti's team that crashed out of the Round of 16. Chelsea are believed to be among a couple of clubs that have now registered interest in the left-footed centre-back this summer.

The Blues, who have been very active in the ongoing summer transfer window, are believed to be keen on adding a left-footed centre-back to their defence, with Calafiori fitting this profile.

In a bid to step up their approach for the Bologna defender, Italian journalist Pedulla has revealed that Chelsea have now presented a salary offer to the player.

The Italian defender made a total of 30 Serie A appearances for Bologna last season, scoring two goals and providing five assists while helping his club record 15 league clean sheets.

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Bologna technical director makes honest admission on Chelsea transfer target

Bologna technical director Giovanni Sartori has revealed that the club could consider selling on-demand star Riccardo Calafiori this summer should they a sizable offer for the defender.

The 22-year-old centre-back is reportedly attracting transfer interest from the likes of Juventus as well as top clubs in Europe such as Chelsea and Arsenal.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italy, Sartori revealed that while Bologna's choice is to keep Calafiori this summer, they could as well be tempted to listen to sizable offers for the Italian international. He said:

"There is talk of Juventus but also of many other teams. At this moment, we will try to keep him. If important offers were to arrive, we will have to think about it."

He continued:

"I am not saying that we will sell him because the president has said that he wants to keep the whole team, but we will certainly make some evaluations.

It will be interesting to see if he eventually leaves Bologna this summer amid interest from some of Europe's top clubs.