Inter Milan have emerged as favourites to sign Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah after the defender’s representatives sanctioned a transfer to the Serie A champions. The Nerazzurri are now weighing up a formal bid worth €35 million to beat Como to the 24-year-old’s signature.
According to reports in Italy, Chalobah’s agents held productive discussions with Inter officials in recent days and gave their approval for the proposed switch. This development places the Milan club in a strong position despite competition from Como, who recently saw a formal offer worth €30 million including add-ons rejected by Chelsea.
Valuation stand-off
The Premier League side are holding firm on their €35 million valuation of the England international. Como, who have already invested heavily this summer, face difficulty meeting that price after committing €60 million to secure Nico Paz outright from Real Madrid and a further €14 million to sign Kaiki. These expenditures, part of Cesc Fàbregas’s squad rebuilding ahead of their 2026-27 Champions League campaign, leave limited room for manoeuvre.
Como director of sport Carlalberto Ludi confirmed the club remains active in the market. “We are at a pretty advanced stage” for Catanzaro midfielder Mattia Liberali, Ludi told Sky Sport Italia. “We want to sign him,” he added, noting that the Italian talent preferred the opportunity to work with Fàbregas despite higher wage offers from elsewhere.
Financial advantage
Inter possess the necessary funds to satisfy Chelsea’s demands. The club had allocated €50 million for the transfer of Marco Palestra, only for the Italian youngster to choose Stamford Bridge over San Siro last month. Additionally, the expected €20 million sale of Denzel Dumfries to Real Madrid has further bolstered their transfer budget.
This financial flexibility allows Inter to pursue multiple targets simultaneously. While Chalobah represents their primary defensive objective, the club are also targeting reinforcements on the right flank. Anan Khalaili of Union Saint-Gilloise has emerged as the leading candidate for the wing-back role, though the Belgian club are demanding at least €25 million for the 21-year-old.
Next steps
Both clubs view defensive additions as essential ahead of their respective Champions League campaigns next season. However, Inter’s superior financial position and the positive signals from Chalobah’s camp suggest they are now leading the chase.
Como are expected to raise their bid to €30 million plus €5 million in add-ons, matching Chelsea’s asking price. However, with Chalobah’s agents reportedly favouring a move to Inter, the Serie A champions are poised to act decisively should they formalise their interest in the coming days.