Chelsea have reportedly made an offer very late into the transfer window for Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria.
According to well-respected journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Chelsea have now approached Italian giants Juventus about their 25-year-old player.
It is understood that the Blues have offered to take the Switzerland international on loan with an option to make the deal permanent.
Romano says Chelsea’s offer is a “loan with buy option”.
He only moved to Turin back in January from Borussia Monchengladbach, playing 15 games in Juventus colours so far.
However, Thomas Tuchel’s side are now trying to get him through the doors at Stamford Bridge before the transfer window shuts tonight at 11pm.
Chelsea offer for Denis Zakaria
It sounds like the Blues want to really bring in another midfielder within the next few hours.
Juventus star Zakaria, 25, is a player whose name has emerged from nowhere on deadline day.
Described as a “very complete footballer” in the past by former Gladbach boss Marco Rose, Zakaria is most recognised from the success he enjoyed in the German Bundesliga.
He’s a powerful defensive midfielder that’s a strong ball carrier and he could slot into Tuchel’s system as one of the double pivots in midfield.
With Ajax reportedly deciding not to sell their midfielder Edson Alvarez to interested buyers Chelsea, it looks like the London club are taking their interest elsewhere.
Saul 2.0?
If you remember to last summer, Chelsea were in a similar position when they found themselves searching for a new midfielder in the closing stages of a transfer window.
They ended up turning to Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez at the last moment, which is a deal that never really worked for either party.
Let’s hope last-minute target Zakaria doesn’t suffer the same fate if he ends up joining the Blues.
It does sound like there’s a lot to do still until the Juventus man arrives, though.
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