Will Chelsea keep Denis Zakaria after his loan spell?

The Swiss midfielder has struggled for playing time since arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer.

Chelsea are reportedly “unlikely” to trigger their option to sign Denis Zakaria on a permanent contract next summer.

Zakaria joined Juventus from Borussia Monchengladbach on an €8.6m deal in January 2022. However, the Bianconeri decided to loan him out only six months after his arrival.

Chelsea signed the Swiss midfielder on a season-long loan deal. However, they have seemingly decided to continue their search for a new defensive midfielder.

According to Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea will most likely avoid keeping Zakaria after the current season. The Sky Germany journalist claims finding a new No.6 is one of the Blues’ main transfer priorities.

Chelsea reportedly have the option to sign Zakaria on a permanent deal for €30m. However, the Swiss international’s limited playing time under Graham Potter has prevented him from finding an impressive start in the Premier League.

Zakaria has made six league appearances, often playing as a backup option for Enzo Fernandez. The former Bundesliga star’s contract at Juventus runs until 2026.

Declan Rice is reported “top candidate” to join Chelsea next summer. However, the West Ham star has also emerged as a target for Arsenal and Manchester United.