Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah has reportedly decided that he wants to leave the club in the current transfer window.
Since enjoying three productive loan spells with Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town and Lorient, Chalobah has become an established member of the Blues' first-team setup.
The 24-year-old has turned out 63 times for his boyhood club - contributing four goals and one assist - and he made 33 appearances across all competitions in the 2022-23 campaign.
Chalobah proved a useful option due to his versatility - featuring as a central defender and right-back - as he started 18 Premier League games and a further four in the Champions League.
However, Chelsea laboured to a 12th-placed finish in the top flight and are undergoing a wide-scale reshuffle under Mauricio Pochettino, who has already sanctioned the exits of Cesar Azpilicueta, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ethan Ampadu.
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Chalobah was initially expected to head for the departure lounge too, but Wesley Fofana's ACL operation led to suggestions that the Cobham youth product could remain at Stamford Bridge.
However, Chelsea are now believed to have agreed a deal in principle for Monaco's Axel Disasi, who will compete with Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva for starts in the Blues backline.
Amid claims that Pochettino only wants to work with four fit central defenders next season, the Evening Standard states that Chalobah has made up his mind to leave the club.
The report says that Chalobah is only expecting limited minutes under Pochettino next term, despite featuring regularly under the Argentine during their pre-season tour of the USA.
With Euro 2024 in mind, Chalobah - who is yet to earn his first senior cap for England - is understandably keen to play regular football, but Chelsea's asking price could potentially deter suitors.
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The Blues are believed to be demanding a £45m fee to sell the 24-year-old, who only penned a new long-term deal in November and is contracted to Chelsea until 2028 with the option of a further 12 months.
Inter Milan have long been linked with a swoop for Chalobah, but it remains to be seen if the Nerazzurri - whose economic concerns have been well-documented - are prepared to meet Chelsea's financial demands.
Furthermore, Inter have already reinforced their backline this summer, signing 22-year-old Yann Aurel Bisseck and converting Francesco Acerbi's loan from Lazio into a permanent move.
New contracts have also been agreed with Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij, although Milan Skriniar has completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after running down his deal.
Ben Knapton
