A hoard of Chelsea supporters on social media did not meet Fabrizio Romano’s latest update on Achraf Hakimi with a warm reception.
According to the transfer guru, Inter Milan are demanding a straight up fee of €80m (£68m) for their flying full-back.
Reportedly, Chelsea have attempted to lower the price by offering up several of Thomas Tuchel’s squad as part of a swap deal.
Marcos Alonso appears top of the list, with fellow defender Emerson Palmieri also mentioned.
But it seems Inter just want cash for Hakimi, which did not sit well with Blues fans.
Here’s how they reacted on Twitter:
In a summer we are trying to get Haaland, no way we will spend €80m on Hakimi. If Inter won’t accept players in the deal it won’t happen from our end. Laughable thing is if this was the other way round Inter would offer a loan + option to buy for £40m and think it’s acceptable. https://t.co/2qAXr6mabC
— Steve ⭐️⭐️ (@StevefCFC1905) June 21, 2021
€80m + the reported £300k/week wage demands is just robbing us now. Hakimi isn’t as important to us as he is to PSG who don’t have any decent FB/WB options.
— ⭐ Bleed Blue ⭐ (@CFCBleedBlue) June 21, 2021
Time to look for other options. https://t.co/WXnWFRfTAI
Look. Hakimi is the best wing-back in the world. But €80 mill cash is just ridiculous man… https://t.co/P7vooMZ17K
— Alex 🌟🌟 (@Alex_brunton03) June 20, 2021
Yeah that’s that, forget Hakimi..
— Leo Sat⭐⭐ (@SignEveryone) June 20, 2021
Hopefully PSG pay the 80 mil for a wingback..
80 mil, 200k a week for a wingback is not called ambition, it’s called stupidity..
For Chelsea – Reece, CHO, promoting Livramento are more than enough for right wingback position..
Hunt for Hakimi
Chelsea have already seen their first attempts to lure Hakimi away from Serie A battered away by the Italian champions.
Their initial offer stood at €60m (£51.6m), but Inter’s valuation of the Moroccan remained resolute.
In a transfer window where the Blues are trying to land Erling Haaland for an even greater number, relinquishing this type of money might be risky.
It will certainly set Roman Abramovich back in his pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s young striker.
Dortmund are asking for upwards of £150m (Telegraph) for the 20-year-old, plus a knee-trembling figure for his wage demands.
Ask about Adama
Even for a club with Chelsea’s finanical resources, the cost of securing Haaland would leave them with very little to make any more signings ahead of next season.
If Tuchel is desperate for a right-sided player, then he could move for Wolverhampton Wanderers trickster, Adama Traore.
The Spaniard has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and would certainly be a cheaper option than Hakimi.