Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign Atalanta right back Marco Palestra for a reported fee of around £43 million this summer.

The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Cagliari, where he made a consistent impression throughout the Serie A campaign with his performances.

Palestra scored once and contributed four assists during his time with Cagliari, demonstrating his attacking qualities from the right back position.

Chelsea had been monitoring the young Italian defender for a considerable period before deciding to push forward with a formal approach for his services.

Former Cagliari sporting director Guido Angelozzi has confirmed that both Chelsea and Manchester City were tracking Palestra closely throughout the past year.

“Chelsea and Manchester City had been following him for a year. They were always at the stadium, at Cagliari and away from home,” Angelozzi told SportMediaset.

“They kept calling me. They wanted to know everything. Obviously they already had all the data, but they were looking for information about the boy’s character and his qualities.”

Chelsea currently have Reece James and Malo Gusto as their senior right back options, but Gusto has been strongly linked with a departure from Stamford Bridge this summer.

Gusto is reportedly being tracked by Manchester City, where he is expected to reunite with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who now leads the club.

The arrival of Palestra would push Gusto further down the pecking order at Chelsea, making an exit from the club an increasingly likely outcome for the Frenchman.

Palestra is highly rated across Europe and is considered a strong long-term investment by Chelsea, who have developed a reputation for targeting talented young players.

The challenge for the Italian will be competing with an experienced figure like Reece James, who remains one of the most technically accomplished right backs in the Premier League.

Regular first-team football will be essential for Palestra’s continued growth, and Chelsea will need to manage his development carefully to help him reach his full potential.

At 21 years old and with a full Serie A loan campaign behind him, Palestra arrives at Chelsea with genuine experience and a growing profile across European football.

The post Chelsea Close In On £43m Marco Palestra Transfer After Months Of Intense Scouting appeared first on Gooner Daily.