Arch rivals propose straight swap deal for Tottenham target after £46.4m bid rejected

Chelsea propose Christian Pulisic swap deal for Tottenham Hotspur target Nicolo Zaniolo

Chelsea are supposedly proposing a straight swap deal involving Christian Pulisic to sign Tottenham Hotspur target Nicolo Zaniolo this summer.

According to Italian outlet CalcioMercatoWeb (h/t Football.London), the Blues are open to letting Pulisic join AS Roma in exchange for the 23-year-old playmaker.

Zaniolo has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs recently. Tottenham have apparently had a £46.4million bid rejected for the Italy international, with Chelsea now keen to spoil Spurs’ transfer plans.

Pulisic was not used by Thomas Tuchel a lot during the last campaign as he started just 13 Premier League games throughout the course of the season. The USMNT star, in that regard, could be a like-for-like replacement for Zaniolo.

Chelsea pose big headache

He can play as a right-winger, just like the Italian, and is of a strong age profile as well. This would pose a serious threat to our hopes of signing the former Inter Milan playmaker.

We don’t really have a need for another attacker, in all honesty, with our front three of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, and Dejan Kulusevski wreaking havoc against Southampton in a 4-1 win last weekend.

That was without our headline summer signing, Richarlison, who would also have to prove his mettle in order to get regular playing time under Conte. However, Zaniolo is young and can be an able successor to the likes of Son and even Kane were they to leave the club in the future.

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Moreover, he would add incredible depth to this team. He is also a player Conte would have seen for himself during their time in Serie A, and hence, if the manager wants him, the board would be wise to back him.