One of the most intense disputes in the January transfer market is centered on Joaquin Panichelli, and several media sources in Europe report that Milan has entered firmly into the dispute with Chelsea for the 23-year-old South American striker, who is one of RC Strasbourg's main highlights in the current Ligue 1 season.
The Argentine arrived at Strasbourg last summer for around €16.5 million, a record fee for his Spanish club of origin (Deportivo Alavés). Since then, he has scored seven goals in eight Ligue 1 matches, which has fueled interest from bigger teams. As Chelsea and Strasbourg share the same ownership structure (via BlueCo), the deal may be easier to negotiate, making this signing more plausible for the Londoners.
Understand why Panichelli is being fought over
For Chelsea, Panichelli represents a strategic move to revamp their offense: with the possible departure of players such as Nicolás Jackson and Marc Guiu in the future, the Argentine emerges as a high-potential alternative for the attack. However, Milan is also a strong candidate to sign him: the Italian club is willing to invest in the player, motivated by the need to strengthen its attack with a young and promising profile.
There is still no official confirmation of figures or a closing date for the deal. The outcome will depend on how intense Milan will be in the dispute, and what proposal Chelsea will make to gain the advantage in signing a good 1.90m tall striker, a natural center forward who has the mobility to move between spaces.
The Argentine also has excellent ability inside the box: he has shown good efficiency in the chances he creates or receives near the goal. For example, in his debut for Strasbourg in the current Ligue 1 season, he scored 10 shots out of 18 attempts, or about 55% accuracy. Finally, he also stands out for his strength in the air, intelligently marking himself in midfield, and can play alone up front or in tandem with another winger.