Chelsea are ready to take advantage of a breakdown in contract renewal negotiations and move for Roma star Alessandro Florenzi.
The versatile right-back has came through the youth ranks at his hometown club and, aside from a loan spell at Crotone, has spent his entire career with the Giallorossi.
However, with his contract set to expire next summer, recent talks between Roma and Florenzi’s agent, Alessandro Lucci, have thus far failed to seal a new deal for the 27-year-old, and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest that this has opened the door to Chelsea.
Florenzi is keen to increase his €1.5 million per season to more than €3m, on par with the likes of Diego Perotti but considerably less than top earners Radja Nainggolan and Edin Dzeko, each on €4.5m.
The Italian international is also holding out for guarantees on his role within the team, particularly as right-back Rick Karsdorp has now fully recovered from a serious injury that effectively ruled him out of the entirety of his debut season.
Roma are keen to retain Florenzi and are yet to receive a formal offer from Chelsea, but the Blues are now keeping tabs on his situation at the Stadio Olimpico and are ready to challenge other interested parties, such as Juventus, for his signature.
Florenzi has scored 25 goals in 223 appearances for the Lupi, having made his debut under Vincenzo Montella in May 2011.
