Chelsea agree £51m transfer after urgent Xabi Alonso request
Marco Palestra is set to join Chelsea (LightRocket via Getty)
Chelsea have reached an initial agreement with Atalanta over a €60 million (£51.6m) deal to sign Marco Palestra, according to reports in Italy.
Inter appeared to be favourites to sign Palestra following extensive negotiations with Atalanta this month and the two Serie A clubs were still in talks on Tuesday.
However, Sky Sport Italy reports that Chelsea had overtaken Inter by late Tuesday evening and the Premier League side have now agreed a deal with Atalanta to sign Palestra.
Chelsea 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.
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Palestra has agreed a five-year contract with Chelsea worth €5m (£2.5m) per season, a deal which doubled Inter’s offer.
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.
Marco Palestra looked set to join Inter before Chelsea hijacked the deal (FIGC via Getty)
Palestra is said to have personally contacted Atalanta’s CEO, Luca Percassi, to inform him of his decision to accept Chelsea’s offer.
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 in 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.
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