Chelsea 'eye up £12m move for Serie A youngster and are 'pushing hard to seal deal this month' with Cesare Casadei set to return to Italy
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Chelsea have lined up a move for a promising Moroccan talent as they look to replace the outgoing Cesar Casadei this month, according to reports. Midfielder Casadei is expected to leave Stamford Bridge with several Serie A sides circling and Lazio have lodged an £11.5million bid, as revealed by Mail Sport.
![[Cesare Casadei is expected to leave Stamford Bridge and seal a return to Italy]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/17/94444247-14318483-image-a-5_1737653484033.jpg)
Casadei has made just 17 appearances in total since joining for £12.6m from Inter Milan in 2023 and spent spells on loan at Reading and Leicester City. But the Blues are keen to ensure they do not leave themselves short and Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed they are pushing hard to sign Hellas Verona's Reda Belahyane.
![[Enzo Maresca is short of options in midfield after injuries to several first-team regulars]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/17/94444269-14318483-image-m-7_1737653490852.jpg)
The deal has progressed in recent days and is said to be worth €15m (£12.6m). Belahyane has featured 20 times in Serie A this season and recorded two assists. Chelsea have lined up a move for Hellas Verona midfielder Reda Belahyane (right), reports say.
![[Belahyane (left) has made 20 appearances in Serie A this season, recording two assists]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/17/94444235-14318483-image-a-8_1737653503841.jpg)
Cesare Casadei is expected to leave Stamford Bridge and seal a return to Italy. Enzo Maresca is short of options in midfield after injuries to several first-team regulars. The youngster has also earned one cap for the Moroccan national side. He joined Verona for just €500,000 (£420,000) one year ago but after a series of eye-catching displays, Chelsea will be forced to splash out significantly more.
![[Chelsea also enquired over a loan for Juventus' Douglas Luiz but a deal appears unlikely]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/17/94414037-14318483-Chelsea_are_the_latest_club_to_have_asked_about_a_loan_for_Juven-a-9_1737653586010.jpg)
Casadei was left out of Chelsea's squad ahead of their FA Cup victory over Morecambe, having been deemed surplus to requirements. Boss Enzo Maresca said he did not want to jeopardise his prospects of a move. 'For him [Casadei], probably in this moment, the idea is not to allow him to play some minutes in case there is any opportunity for him to go and play,' Maresca said. 'At this moment, this is the best thing for him.'.
