Mehdi Benatia Set for Chelsea Move Amid Contract Dispute at Roma
Moroccan defender Mehdi Benatia is reportedly on the verge of a high-profile transfer to English Premier League club Chelsea, following his decision to reject a contract extension from AS Roma.
According to Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, the 27-year-old, who joined Roma just a year ago, has expressed his desire to leave the Italian capital club amid a salary disagreement. Chelsea have emerged as the frontrunners to secure his signature, with the Moroccan international reportedly favoring a move to Stamford Bridge over interest from Manchester City and Barcelona.
Benatia’s arrival at Chelsea is expected to fill the gap left by David Luiz, who recently completed a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. The deal is believed to be close to completion, with the transfer fee estimated between €35 million and €40 million.
The former Marseille and Clermont defender’s move would strengthen Chelsea’s backline as they aim to bolster their squad for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Roma must now look for alternatives following the loss of one of their key defenders.
