Chelsea are reportedly not willing to sign Denis Zakaria on a permanent basis this summer after bringing him in on a season-long loan from Juventus last September.
The Swiss international midfielder has made just 10 appearances for Graham Potter’s side this season and it appears likely that the Blues would not be triggering the £30 million option to buy in his contract.
News #Zakaria: At this stage he is likely to leave Chelsea at the the end of this season. Been told the club tendency’s is not to use the option to buy. Therefore he could return to Juventus.
But: #CFC is looking for a new No. 6! One of the top priorities. @SkySportDE 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/rWnJSoJuUg
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) March 16, 2023
According to a claim from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea are on the search for a new defensive midfielder ahead of this summer’s transfer window with Zakaria in line to return to his parent club Juventus at the end of his loan spell.
It is said that West Ham United maestro Declan Rice would be back on Chelsea’s wishlist for the summer despite recent reports suggesting that Arsenal had emerged as the frontrunners to sign the England midfielder.
Rice has been linked with a move back to Chelsea where he came through the youth ranks before being released at the age of 14 upon which he signed for West Ham and has now grown into one of the top players in the English top flight.