Exclusive: Chelsea Considering Move For Italy And Inter Milan Defender Alessandro Bastoni as Marc Guehi Alternative

Chelsea are considering a move for Alessandro Bastoni if Marc Guehi rejects a return to Stamford Bridge, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca is keen to bolster his options at centre-half after losing Levi Colwill to injury, with Crystal Palace’s Guehi among the Italian’s preferred options.

But Maresca will turn to his compatriot Bastoni if the 25-year-old makes it clear he would rather join Liverpool, having seen a switch to Anfield collapse towards the end of the summer transfer window.

Bastoni is a mainstay at the heart of Internazionale’s backline, winning seven major trophies since joining them from Atalanta. 

Aged 26, only a year older than Guehi, he has also been capped nearly 40 times by his country and featured in the squad which pipped England to become European champions in 2020.

Bastoni is under contract at the San Siro for another two seasons but is thought to be keen to explore the possibility of playing abroad at some stage of his career. 

However, it is his ball-playing style and aerial ability which has piqued Maresca’s interest - together with an enviable depth of experience at the highest levels of the game.

With Colwill set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines, Chelsea had been expected to enter the market for a replacement before the summer deadline. 

DEFENSIVE POOL

With the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao and FA Cups all priorities this term, Maresca also made it plain he would prefer to increase his pool of defensive talent ahead of a four-pronged assault on silverware.

Stamford Bridge’s hierarchy responded by telling him to work with the options already at his disposal. 

But privately, they are expected to sanction another in-coming deal if the right opportunity presents itself.

Guehi, who has made over 160 senior appearances for Palace, began his career at Chelsea before heading across the capital. 

Now one of the country's most coveted players, Liverpool believed they had brokered a deal for his services earlier this summer before the switch was blocked by manager Oliver Glasner.