While Chelsea and AC Milan are fighting it out with the Alessio Romagnoli saga, another deal is also in the works, this time for Chelsea (sort of, technically I guess) midfielder Mario Pašalić. Milan are targeting Pašalić in a totally separate deal to the Romagnoli one, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
#Milan in talks with Chelsea for Marko Pasalic. Possible loan. It is OUT from Romagnoli deal. Two different negotiations. #CFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 24, 2016
The is 21-year-old is part of the Chelsea ‘loan army’, and was signed by the club in 2014 from Hajduk Split, joining Spanish club Elche on loan just two weeks after the transfer was complete. He stayed at Elche for the season, then went on his second loan spell to Monaco last summer. His Monaco stint was cut short when he suffered a back injury, and returned to Stamford Bridge and seek medical treatment.
Milan are in need of midfield depth and aren’t looking to spend a whole lot until the Chinese investors officially take over the club, and a loan for Pašalić would be an ideal move that costs little. The reported deal is a €1m loan without an option to buy.
The German-born, Croatian international midfielder made 28 appearances for Monaco last season and scored 7 goals before he succumbed to a back injury. There is no room for Pašalić in a first team role for Chelsea at this stage, so a third straight loan season is the most obvious option.
As the folk over at We Ain’t Got No History have said, the deal isn’t part of the Romagnoli saga, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt, and perhaps might become a sneaky part of bargaining power for Chelsea. Some clever soul has already changed his current team in Wikipedia team, too.