Chelsea are in the market for more defensive help after a serious injury to star center back Levi Colwill, as the only defensive addition the Blues have made to their squad this season is Ajax standout Jorrel Hato.
As Chelsea mull over signing another center back to help Enzo Maresca execute his tactical plan, they are actually actively shopping a young defender in Renato Veiga, who is no longer deemed important to the cause.
Like Carney Chukwuemeka, Veiga is another young player whom Chelsea no longer see long-term value in and are trying to sell to raise a few extra funds before the transfer window closes, perhaps to go for a more experienced center back.
According to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Villarreal submitted a “formal” transfer bid to Chelsea for Veiga, but the Blues have rejected the transfer offer as it is below their demands.
La Liga club high on Chelsea defender
Veiga is reportedly a top target for Villarreal to sign as they look to secure Champions League football in La Liga this season, bolstering their defense with a potential long-term solution.
For his part, the 22-year-old center back would also like a move to the historic La Liga side, but it sounds like the Yellow Submarine have quite a bit of work to do before they can appease Chelsea and make this deal official.
Chukwuemeka, Veiga, and Christopher Nkunku are three players not wanted by Maresca who are almost certain to go this summer, and if it isn’t Villarreal, Chelsea should be able to find someone who wants Veiga.
He spent the last season on loan with Serie A giants Juventus, and the Portuguese international was actually highly impressive in 12 starts in Italy, averaging 1.3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 6.1 clearances, and 0.4 dribbles completed allowed per game for the Bianconeri.
Given his impressive performances for Juve, you can see why the 2020/21 Europa League winners would want Veiga, but it also makes you wonder if Chelsea could change their minds on him due to their own defensive needs.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.