Chelsea dealt CRUSHING blow as Inter make crucial Lautaro decision

Cameron Smith

• 16 Jul 2023 18:14 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea’s list of potential new centre-forwards is set to be diminished by one with reports from Italy suggesting that Lautaro Martinez is set to be named as Inter Milan’s new club captain.

Martinez, 25, is on the Blues’ radar, with Mauricio Pochettino previously keen on bringing his countryman to Stamford Bridge.

Rumours of a move to Chelsea have quietened down in recent weeks, with Chelsea looking at the possibility of signing Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, but Lautaro was still an option for the London club.

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However, that now seems increasingly unlikely as the Argentine World Cup winner is set to be named as Inter’s new captain, according to Sky Sport Italia.

Samir Handanovic has occupied the role of Inter skipper for four years, but the veteran ‘keeper has said goodbye to the club this summer after 11 years at San Siro.

According to SempreInter, Inter had a policy that when Handanovic was not in the starting XI last season, the most senior player in the team would wear the armband.

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As a result, Milan Skriniar frequently captained Inter, although he was stripped of the armband once he rejected a new contract offer and opted to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer this summer.

Marcelo Brozovic was also the matchday captain on numerous occasions, but he has also departed to join Al-Nassr.

Inzaghi picks Lautaro

Thanks to this summer’s exits, Lautaro is now Inter’s longest-serving current player, having joined in 2018, and has been selected as the club’s new captain, according to Sky Italia.

Simone Inzaghi is also set to appoint Nicolo Barella as Inter’s vice-captain.

Lautaro netted 28 goals in all competitions last season having scored 25 times during the 2021/22 campaign.

He has been looked at by Chelsea, according to multiple sources, with the Blues searching for a new number nine. They have already signed Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson this summer, while Armando Broja remains at the club, but they remain in the hunt for another central forward.

Now, Sepe Elye Wahi and Vlahovic appear more realistic targets than Lautaro, with the Argentine set to be handed the responsibility of becoming Inter captain.