CHELSEA have reportedly matched Paris Saint-Germain’s £56million offer for Inter Milan wing-back Achraf Hakimi.
The Serie A champions are surprisingly looking to sell one of their stars of last season to raise much-needed funds.
But Inter are believed to want nearer £69m for the player they paid £36m for from Real Madrid last summer.
Sky Italy is reporting that the Italian giants could choose to work with Chelsea on the deal as they fancy taking Emerson Palmieri and Andreas Christensen in return.
The Londoners are keen to ship out Palmieri, having fallen down the pecking order behind Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso on the left-side of defence.
Hakimi, 22, is predominantly right-sided, so would provide competition for England star Reece James.
But he has been utilised on the left too.
The Moroccan scored seven goals and bagged 10 assists as Inter coasted to the Serie A title last season.
His two years on loan at Borussia Dortmund tempted Inter to splash the cash – and they look set for a healthy return.
PSG thought they were well on their way to securing the versatile star – but now Chelsea and boss Thomas Tuchel is ready to gazump the deal.
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The Ligue 1 giants’ first attempt was swiftly knocked back by Inter, with the Italian champions holding out for bids of around £70m.
Arsenal have already expressed an interest as they hunt for a new right-back, with Hector Bellerin – the club’s longest-serving player – expected to leave this summer.
And now Chelsea have moved to the front of the queue for Hakimi.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
