CHELSEA’S search for defensive reinforcements could see them shopping back at Inter Milan, according to reports.
The Champions League winners brought in star striker Romelu Lukaku from Inter this summer in a blockbuster £97.5million deal.
And now SportMediaSet claim the Belgian has told his new employers to take a look at Milan Skriniar and Alessandro Bastoni.
The defensive duo are key cogs in the Inter machine and the Italian champions are thought to be unwilling to sell.
But with Kurt Zouma moving to West Ham and 36-year-old Thiago Silva not getting any younger, Chelsea will be looking to strengthen in defence when the transfer window reopens in January.
Skriniar is a no-nonsense centre-back talked of as the heir to former Slovakia captain and compatriot Martin Skrtel.
Left-footed Bastoni also plays in the centre of defence but can fill-in at fullback where he started his career.
The 22-year-old is one of Italy’s brightest young stars and his confidence on the ball would work well within boss Thomas Tuchel’s system.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Chelsea feel under-resourced at centre-back, having allowed Zouma to move to West Ham for £29.8million this summer.
Versatile academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah joined Silva and Antonio Rudiger in a back-three in Chelsea’s most recent outing – a 3-0 win against Aston Villa.
But with Tuchel determined to challenge for this season’s Premier League title and defend his Champions League crown, the Blues will be looking for further strength in depth.
If the recent arrival of Lukaku from Inter is anything to go by, Chelsea can expect the best when shopping at the San Siro.
Lukaku’s return to Chelsea, where he spent the years 2011 to 2014, has seen him score three goals in three appearances so far.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
