DAVIDE ZAPPACOSTA could end up marooned at Chelsea – as Inter Milan are making eyes at Hector Bellerin.
Zappacosta, 29, spent last season on loan at Italian outfit Genoa, where he played 25 games and scored four goals from right-back.
He is a good short-term option to replace Achraf Hakimi, who left for Paris Saint-Germain for a whopping £51.3million.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Zappacosta is waiting for Inter’s call to return to Italy on a permanent basis.
However, Arsenal defender Bellerin – who is three years younger than the Italian – is believed to be keen on a move to Inter too.
The Spaniard handed in a transfer request at the Gunners, putting Inter on high alert.
But Arsenal are unwilling to accept a loan with an option to buy, which is the only option the Serie A champions will consider at the moment.
Bellerin has ambitions of playing in the Champions League, something Inter can offer next season.
Back in 2017, he said: “You never know what can happen.
“The truth is that all the top level players want to play the Champions League, especially when I’ve spent two years in.
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“As a team we have not achieved qualification, and it is something that we all want to fix, but as a player I repeat that it is an important competition.”
Bellerin appears to be Inter’s priority target at right-back.
But should a deal fail to be struck, Zappacosta – alongside Cagliari’s Nahitan Nandez – are back-up options.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk