'Market heating up' for Chelsea star

Tom Weber

• 19 Oct 2024 16:30 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea youngster Cesare Casadei is a man in demand, according to Italian media.

The Blues midfielder is still in the process of finding his feet at Stamford Bridge. After loans to Reading and Leicester, the 2022 signing is still not a regular for Chelsea and was the subject of transfer speculation in the summer.

The west London giants flip-flopped on Casadei's future, at one point making him available for transfer before then deciding that he would be kept around as part of Enzo Maresca's team, who had already coached him for half a season at Leicester.

READ MORE: Chelsea told they can get €25m discount on €90m superstar

However, despite staying on board, Casadei has not been on the pitch an awful lot under the Italian tactician. So far, the 21-year-old has only made two appearances, playing the full 90 minutes in the EFL Cup win over Barrow and against Gent in the Conference League.

This has done little to calm the speculation surrounding his future, with Casadei now again the subject of intense interest from clubs ready to end his Chelsea nightmare.

Casadei's 'market heating up'

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the Italian midfielder's new representatives Epic Sports, whom he joined in the summer, have already fielded several enquiries for the youngster from suitors.

It is claimed that Casadei's 'market is heating up,' with the player greatly admired in Spain and, of course, in his native Italy. LaLiga side Villarreal are said to be really keen on snapping him up.

READ MORE: West Ham plot Chelsea raid for forgotten star in repeat of Arsenal’s Sterling deal

Additionally, Fiorentina and Atalanta were interested in Casadei in the summer and it is thought that their attraction to the player has not subsided.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea would be open to a January departure. Despite his limited minutes, he seems to be considered an important squad player by Maresca, but it is doubtful that it is Casadei's ambition to merely be a rotational player.