Chelsea have opened talks with Inter Milan regarding a potential move for goalkeeper Andre Onana, with the Italian giants eager to acquire either Trevoh Chalobah or Ruben Loftus-Cheek as part of the deal. Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy have been the Blues’ no1s this season, but neither are seen as a long-term option in goal. Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and Brentford’s David Raya have been considered at Stamford Bridge, however reports in Italy suggest Chelsea have now prioritised a move for Onana, formerly of Ajax.
Inter have placed a €40million (£35m) price tag on the 27-year-old, and club officials met with their Chelsea counterparts on Wednesday. During these talks, Chelsea offered to include Kepa in the deal, which was swiftly rejected by the Serie A side. Negotiations will continue, but Inter are not interested in Kepa, although Gazzetta dello Sport claim they would be open to bringing in another Chelsea player. Chalobah is highly thought of at Inter, as they are set to lose Milan Skriniar at the end of the season, and the Londoner is viewed as a possible replacement due to his flexibility across the backline. Loftus-Cheek is also an interesting option for Inter, as the midfielder has started 17 league games this season, but is among the players at risk of being moved on with the club planning a major clear-out this summer. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be named the new permanent Chelsea head coach, and he has already given his assessment of the current squad and given his verdict on a number of players whose futures are in question. The Argentine has also informed the club that the presence of homegrown talent within the group can serve a key role in building a winning culture in west London.