Chelsea have reached an initial agreement with Atalanta over a €60 million (£51.6m) deal to sign Marco Palestra, according to reports in Italy. The Premier League side have agreed a €57 million (£49.1m) transfer fee plus an additional €3m (£2.5m) in add-ons, while Atalanta also have a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
Xabi Alonso's role in the transfer
Xabi Alonso is said to have played a key role in Chelsea's push to sign Palestra as he has spoken with the 21-year-old to explain his role in the team. The urgent request from Alonso helped Chelsea overtake Inter, who appeared to be favourites following extensive negotiations with Atalanta this month.
Palestra has agreed a five-year contract with Chelsea worth €5m (£2.5m) per season, a deal which doubled Inter's offer. The defender is said to have personally contacted Atalanta's CEO, Luca Percassi, to inform him of his decision to accept Chelsea's offer.
Competition for the defender
Inter were still in talks with Atalanta on Tuesday, but Sky Sport Italy reports that Chelsea had overtaken Inter by late Tuesday evening. Newcastle United had also held talks to sign Palestra, but the defender turned down a switch to Eddie Howe's side and initially prioritised a move to Inter before Chelsea stepped up their efforts.
Palestra spent last season on loan at Cagliari and played as a right wing-back with the club finishing 14th in Serie A. The 21-year-old impressed during his time at Cagliari as he was awarded Serie A's best defender and was also recorded as the quickest player in the division with an average sprint speed of 27.96 km/h.
Impact on Chelsea's squad
The signing of Palestra bolsters Chelsea's defensive options, with the young Italian expected to compete for a starting spot under Alonso. The deal reflects Chelsea's aggressive approach in the transfer market, securing a highly-rated talent despite late interest from other clubs.
