Chelsea has become the latest club linked with a move for AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez, according to reports from SempreMilan.
The 27-year-old French international is currently valued at €60m by Transfermarkt, though that figure is expected to drop significantly next summer when he will have just one year left on his contract. While talks are ongoing in Milan, Hernandez is reportedly eyeing a potential move for a big pay day.
Chelsea, along with several other top European clubs, are said to be monitoring the situation, with interest intensifying if Hernandez doesn’t sign a new deal with Milan. The player is demanding a high salary, but Milan has expressed concerns over his attitude and performances.
Bayern Munich, PSG, and Juventus are also among the clubs reportedly keeping tabs on Hernandez.
However, this potential move doesn’t entirely align with Chelsea’s current strategy. The club’s sporting directors have been focused on acquiring younger players on long-term contracts, rather than established stars nearing the peak of their career and demanding high fees.
That said, Chelsea has shown flexibility in the past, as seen with the pursuit of Tosin Adarabioyo this summer, when the club was willing to make an exception for a player at a good price. The challenge with Hernandez, however, lies in his expected wages, which are likely to be much higher than those of Adarabioyo. Given Chelsea’s struggles with offloading high-earning players like Ben Chilwell, it’s difficult to envision them taking on another left-back with a hefty wage package, especially one approaching his late 20s.
Marc Cucurella and Renato Veiga have established themselves as first and second-choice left-backs, respectively, and will likely be given the remainder of the season to prove that no further reinforcements are needed in that position.
