Chelsea are on the verge of signing of Atalanta’s Marco Palestra and will continue tracking the Italian market.
TuttoMercatoWeb covers the latest on the Premier League side’s surprise target from the Serie A.
Chelsea have now set their sights on Torino’s Cesare Casadei. This is surprising because of his past ties with the Blues.
He arrived at the west London club from Inter Milan in 2022 and was promoted to the first team a year later.
The midfielder played 496 minutes from 17 matches for the Stamford Bridge club. They sanctioned the loan moves to Reading and Leicester City and then sold him to Torino in February 2025.
Later that month, Casadei suggested he had to leave Chelsea for a prominent role. At that time, he said: “It’s what I needed: to be in a club where they make me feel important and where I feel important. I feel that I can make a big contribution to Toro.”
The 23-year-old managed seven goals from 36 matches last season and that didn’t go unnoticed in England.
How Chelsea can make signing cheaper
Earlier this month, Sport Witness relayed news both Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion are keen. Xabi Alonso’s side have now joined the Premier League duo in the transfer race.
TMW claims Real Betis are keen on Cesare Casadei and considering signing him via a permanent transfer.
The La Liga side could face a big threat from Chelsea, as they want to bring him back to the club.
There’s no mention of his price, but it will be cheaper for the Blues because of the 27.5% sell-on clause.
Chelsea’s plan for Italian
The English club’s plan is to buy Cesare Casadei but not to make him available at Xabi Alonso’s disposal immediately.
Instead, Chelsea intend to send him out on loan to a club where he can continue his development. Ipswich Town, who have secured promotion to the Premier League, could be an option.
It makes little sense for the Italian to return to Chelsea, only for them to send him on loan elsewhere. The midfielder left them in 2025 as he wanted stability.