Chelsea have been linked with Marco Verratti, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s previous comments on the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder will certainly encourage the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Chelsea linked with Marco Verratti
Sky Sports reported last week that Chelsea are among the clubs who want to sign Marco Verratti from Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool are also keen on the £238,000-a-week (SalarySport) Italy international midfielder.
Ligue 1 champions PSG are reportedly ready to cash in on Verratti and would want £70 million for him.
Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol said, as transcribed by The Chelsea Chronicle: “Marco Verratti may be leaving Paris this summer. I think PSG’s official position is that the player is not for sale, but I think, reading between the lines, they would listen to offers for him, offers that match their valuation. I think their valuation is about £70m.
“We have also been told that two Premier League clubs are interested in signing him. The names we were told were Liverpool and Chelsea.
“We haven’t been able to confirm that, it could be he’s a player who has been offered to Liverpool and Chelsea – by agents or intermediaries who are trying to make some money and they know Liverpool and Chelsea are looking for midfielders, but it looks like he could be a player who could be leaving PSG in the next few weeks.”
Verratti is 30 now, but he is one of the best and classiest midfielders around.
Rated highly by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, the Italian is a serial winner who is at the top of his game at the moment.
During his time at PSG so far, the Italian star has won the Ligue 1 title nine times and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2019-20.
Verratti also won the Euro 2020 finals with Italy.
Mauricio Pochettino rates Marco Verratti highly
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino worked with Verratti at PSG.
The Italian helped Pochettino win the Ligue 1 title in 2021-22.
During that season, Verratti made 23 starts and one substitute appearance in Ligue 1.
The Italian star midfielder scored two goals and gave two assists in those games.
Under Pochettino, Verratti scored two goals and gave seven assists in 50 matches for PSG.
The Argentine is a huge fan of the PSG star and raved about him in February 2021.
GetFootballNewsFrance quoted Pochettino as saying about Verratti at the time: “He is a player with a very good ability to read the game.
“He allows for us each time to have attacking possession and to bring the ball out into good situations, to better start off attacks.
“In attacking phases, he can double his efforts and provoke situations going forward. For me, he is a truly great player.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
