Chelsea are plotting a move for Marco Verratti
Antonio Conte may have piloted Chelsea to a Premier League title last season, but he isn’t content to sit and rest on his laurels. Instead, the Italian boss is preparing the Blues’ squad to contend with the rigors of Champions League football next season. That has Conte eyeing one of his home country’s most talented midfielders in the summer transfer window.
Conte plans to go head to head with Barcelona’s new manager Ernesto Valverde for the services of PSG midfielder Marco Verratti. The Catalan giants have made no secret of their interest in the PSG midfielder for the past 12 months. Chelsea, in sharp contrast, will be relative newcomers to the race for Verratti.
It’s easy to see why the Blues would be interested. Despite PSG’s failure to win Ligue One this season, Verratti still had an amazing year. He posted a magnificent Whoscored.com player rating average of 7.54 in 28 league matches. Simply put, Verratti held up his end of the bargain while quite a few of his teammates did not.
The failure of his supporting cast to match his excellence could easily cause him to seek a new challenge this summer. PSG are doing their best to retool their squad to retake Ligue One, but Verratti is under no obligation to stick around for that rebuilding job. His stellar play has earned him the right to play for whatever club he wants.
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That leaves the Italian with an interesting choice. Both Chelsea and Barcelona are clubs capable of winning silverware next season. Valverde’s club arguably plays in the more desirable league while Conte’s project at Chelsea is further along. You couldn’t really argue with Verratti choosing either club over the other.
Of course, PSG are going to have their say in the matter too. At the very least, they will make sure to take their pound of flesh in the deal. Verratti won’t be granted his leave from the French capital cheaply. He’ll cost a fortune in transfer fees and wages for either club.
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In the end, I’d back Chelsea to win this transfer battle if they truly decide Verratti is their number one target. They definitely have the financial resources to get a deal done. Moreover, the presence of Conte as their manager could serve as their ace in the hole. Verratti could move to England but still play for a fellow Italian. That might be too much to turn down for the PSG star.