Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Chelsea have seemingly found a suitor for unwanted defender Benoit Badiashile, although are at risk of pushing their luck by asking for bonuses in the deal.
The Blues have been looking to address the centre-back area this summer with the signing of Maxence Lacroix, putting a number of options at the club lower in the pecking order.
Xabi Alonso has stated he only wants around five options in the position, and this puts the likes of Badiashile seemingly out of the picture.
Enzo Fernandez and Enzo Maresca hugging graphic
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Chelsea pushing their luck with financial demands in Benoit Badiashile deal
Napoli have emerged as favourites to sign the Frenchman, with the deal currently expected to be a loan rather than a straight sale this summer.
However, as per Gianluca Di Marzio, Chelsea are yet to give the deal the green light because of the desire to receive more in bonuses as part of the deal.
SSC Napoli v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League
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This is despite being offered a loan fee of three million euros, as well as an option to buy him at the end of the season for a fee of 20 million euros.
Badiashile currently earns £90,000 per week at Stamford Bridge, and getting these wages off the books in a season where the Blues do not have European revenue would be a massive boost.
Chelsea cannot afford to scare off a suitor from Italy, who traditionally do not pay over the top in any form of transfer fee.
Badiashile is not in Chelsea’s plans
Badiashile has made just 13 appearances in the Premier League over the last two seasons, not becoming a favoured option for either Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
He was behind Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill in the pecking order, and even though Chalobah has departed, now has Lacroix to contend with.
With youngsters such as Mamadou Sarr and Aaron Anselmino being given opportunities on the pre-season tour too, the list of options for Alonso continues to get longer.
There is clearly no place for Badiashile at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea need to be careful to not scare off Napoli in this negotiation with their financial demands.