Chelsea pair on Roma's radar ahead of January transfer window

Jose Mourinho is eyeing his former club for defensive recruitment this winter.

Roma’s pursuit of Chelsea’s defensive duo, Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr, is gaining momentum ahead of the January transfer window.

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, neither Chalobah nor Sarr are currently part of Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team plans at Chelsea.

Chalobah’s season has been marred by injury, sidelining him entirely, while Sarr has yet to secure a spot in any matchday squads.

Despite Chalobah’s previous impact at Stamford Bridge with 45 Premier League appearances over two seasons, the 24-year-old is now seemingly out of contention. Sarr, signed from Nice in 2020, has struggled to break into Chelsea’s first team, making just eight Premier League appearances in the 2021-22 season.

Mourinho, no stranger to recruiting from the Premier League, is keen on bringing the defensive pair to Serie A. If Roma presents suitable offers in 2024, Chelsea is unlikely to stand in the way of their departure. However, Roma may face competition for Chalobah, as he was previously linked with Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United.

As Roma sits seventh in Serie A, Mourinho is eager to bolster his defensive options for a stronger second half of the season.