Trevoh Chalobah is edging towards a summer move to Como, but Chelsea are still holding out for a stronger package. The latest reports point to improved talks rather than a completed deal, with Chalobah said to be open to the switch to Serie A.

The fee gap remains

Fabrizio Romano reported that Como have sent an improved offer of €25 million fixed plus €5 million in add-ons, with the extras described as easy to reach. Football Italia put the Chelsea side of the negotiation at €30 million fixed plus €5 million in bonuses, while Como were still being placed around €25 million plus €5-6 million in add-ons.

Sports Mole added another layer, saying Como returned with a fresh proposal worth around £26 million after failing with their first two offers. That is the basic shape of the deal: Como have moved, Chelsea want more, and the two sides are still working through the structure rather than the headline alone.

The interest makes more sense when you look at the clubs involved. Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League, and Como ended 4th in Serie A. The Italian club have the cleaner pitch on paper, and the reports also say Chalobah is keen on the move.

Chelsea's defensive reshuffle

Chelsea's willingness to listen also fits the wider squad picture. Football Italia says the club have agreed a deal for Maxence Lacroix, who is widely viewed as the replacement in the back line.

Chalobah is not a bit-part name being pushed aside. He has made 151 first-team appearances for Chelsea and spent four spells out on loan, which is why this feels like a genuine squad decision rather than a simple clear-out. For a 27-year-old who can also play at right-back, the market is likely to stay active if Como do not close the gap quickly.

Fabrizio Romano's line on the player preference was simple enough: Chalobah is "keen" on the idea of moving to Como. That does not finish the deal, but it does make Chelsea's leverage slightly less comfortable. The negotiation is still alive, and the next update will be about whether Como stretch the package again.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →