Chelsea in Five-Way Battle for Juventus Captain Manuel Locatelli
January isn’t always the window for blockbuster deals, but one major name could be on the move this winter — Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
According to Mark Brus (Daily Briefing), Chelsea are among the clubs showing strong interest in the Italy international, with Newcastle, Aston Villa, West Ham, and Bayer Leverkusen also in the race. Sources suggest Juventus may consider offers in the region of €40m (£34.9m).
Chelsea’s Midfield Concerns
Enzo Maresca’s side slipped to a 3-1 defeat against Brighton on Saturday — their third loss in four games — and squad depth in midfield remains a pressing issue.
Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, and Andrey Santos are the only senior options currently available. Lavia has just returned from injury, while summer signing Dario Essugo is sidelined until 2026 after thigh surgery.
That lack of numbers has prompted Chelsea to explore reinforcements, with Locatelli emerging as a prime target.
Locatelli’s Juventus Career
The 27-year-old joined Juventus from Sassuolo in 2021 — initially on loan before completing a £31.8m permanent move in 2023. Since then, he has become a mainstay, racking up 188 appearances, six goals, and 15 assists, as well as wearing the captain’s armband.
His silverware with Juve includes one Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa Italiana. At international level, he featured in Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph, making five appearances during the tournament.
What He Would Bring to Chelsea
Locatelli is capable of playing as both a holding midfielder (No.6) and a box-to-box option (No.8), though his reputation is built on his defensive reliability and elite distribution.
- Progressive passes: 9.31 per game in Serie A (top 3% in Europe’s big five leagues).
- Progressive passing distance: 433.19 yards per 90 (top 1%).
- Passes into the final third: 10.37 per 90 (98th percentile).
In short, he is among Europe’s most efficient midfield distributors, capable of dictating tempo and advancing play.
Competition for His Signature
Chelsea will not have a free run. Aston Villa, Newcastle, and West Ham are all monitoring the situation closely, while Bayer Leverkusen see Locatelli as a potential fit for their Bundesliga title push.
With Juventus open to negotiations, Locatelli could become one of the headline transfers of the January window.
