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Chelsea have set their sights on Samuele Ricci, according to Milan Live. The 23-year-old is already being eyed by Manchester City as a possible target for January.
Ricci rose through the ranks at Empoli, before securing a move to Torino in 2022. The Italian midfielder has gone from strength to strength with I Granata, and is now one of the first names on the teamsheet.
His efforts have already turned heads at the Etihad, where Pep Guardiola is looking for Rodri's replacement. The Spanish midfielder picked up an ACL injury last month and is unlikely to play again this season.
Manchester City are apparently preparing to move for Ricci at the turn of the year. However, they could face competition from Chelsea in the race to sign the Italian.
The Blues have invested heavily on talented young footballers in recent times and Ricci fits the bill. He has a similar playing style to the legendary Andrea Pirlo and has been in fine form this season for Torino.
The Italian has appeared nine times across competitions for the Serie A side this campaign, eight of which have been starts.
The London giants could sign him for just £25m in 2025, as his contract at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino expires in 2026. AC Milan apparently have their eyes on Ricci as well.
Do Chelsea need Samuele Ricci?
An alternate report from TEAMtalk suggests that Chelsea are not prioritizing a move for Samuele Ricci at the moment. Enzo Maresca has gone through tremendous trouble to streamline his squad over the summer.
The Italian manager got rid of multiple players, trimming his roster to suit his needs. With Enzo Fernandez and Moises Cancelo doing well so far and the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the books, Ricci is no longer an urgent need at Stamford Bridge.
Instead, the Blues could invest in a new striker in January. As things stand, Nicolas Jackson is the only recognized striker in Maresca's kitty at the moment.
The London giants failed to strike a deal for Victor Osimhen this summer and the Nigerian - who is currently on loan at Galatasaray - remains an option. Chelsea apparently have their eyes on Viktor Gyokeres as well, with the Swede in red-hot form for Sporting once again this season.
The 26-year-old has 12 goals and three assists from 11 games this campaign, and is also wanted by Arsenal. However, his contract with the Portuguese club runs until 2028 and he is likely to cost a fortune.
