Chelsea to offer €130m trio in exchange for Lautaro Martinez

Cameron Smith

Updated: 15 Sept 2024 19:31 BST
3 min read

Chelsea are reportedly planning an audacious swap deal bid to sign Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.

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The 27-year-old signed a contract extension in August and his current deal at San Siro runs until 2028 as a result.

However, Chelsea remain interested in the Argentina international and could attempt to sign him on a permanent deal next year.

Martinez has been linked with numerous Premier League clubs over the past few years, but Enzo Maresca’s side are ready to step up their interest following their failure to land Victor Osimhen this summer.

The Nigeria international was widely expected to seal a Stamford Bridge switch during the summer transfer window, however the Blues were unable to finalise an agreement and he eventually joined Galatasaray on loan instead.

Although Chelsea may rekindle their interest in Osimhen in 2025, they are also keeping tabs on Inter captain Martinez.

In fact, the Blues are considering offering Benoit Badiashile, Carney Chukwuemeka and Mykhailo Mudryk in exchange for Martinez, according to Inter Live.

All three players (who were signed for a combined €126m) have failed to make a meaningful impact since arriving at Chelsea, with Chukwuemeka struggling for fitness, Mudryk struggling for form and Badiashile struggling with a mixture of both.

Inter have reportedly placed a €100 million price tag on Martinez’s head, but Chelsea are seemingly hoping to utilise their squad depth by offloading unwanted stars in order to land the Argentina international.

Lautaro Martinez to Chelsea?

Martinez has scored 129 goals in 284 appearances for Inter, while he helped the club win the 2023-24 Serie A title by a whopping 19 points.

His performances last season have also seen him nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, alongside club team-mate Hakan Calhanoglu and fellow Argentina star Emiliano Martinez.

This season, however, Martinez has been outshone by strike partner Marcus Thuram - who has four goals in just three league games.