Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali has already insisted that Italy star Domenico Berardi is not for sale amid interest from Chelsea.
Gazzetta dello Sport have suggested that the Blues are eyeing the Sassuolo forward as they aim to bolster their forward lines. However, with a reported fee of €40 million and both Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan also thought to be admirers, a move in the near future is certainly not going to be easy.
Chelsea’s task has been made even harder by comments that the Italian outfit’s CEO Carnevali made regarding the winger’s future.
Speaking earlier this month to Tuttosport, he said: “Caputo, Boga, Berardi and Locatelli won’t be sold.
“We’ve received lots of offers for them, but we’ve rejected all of them.
“We won’t give up our best players because we have an ambitious project with De Zerbi, with Berardi being the leader of this team.”
Chelsea’s links to Berardi come after another highly impressive season in Serie A and of course on the international stage at Euro 2020.
The 26-year-old notched 17 goals - his fourth double-figure campaign in the Italian top-flight of his career - whilst also providing a further eight assists.
He also played a key role in Italy’s success this summer and despite having not found the back of the net during their victorious campaign, appeared in every game but one, chipping in with two assists.
He still has three years left to run on his current deal at the Mapei Stadium.
Despite the links to Berardi, Chelsea are currently well-stocked for wingers as it stands. Thomas Tuchel already has the likes of Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech as options to play on the wing.
However, the latter has been linked with a departure, with AC Milan and Napoli thought to be admirers.
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