Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has been in contact with Roma left-back Leonardo Spinazzola following his Achilles tendon injury, according to Sky Italy journalist Angelo Mangiante.
Reports in Italy had been linking the 28-year-old with a move to Stamford Bridge this summer and Mangiante has verified that there was interest from the Blues:
#Spinazzola won’t be able to play for the next 6/7 months (broke his Achilles tendon).
Spinazzola received messages and phone calls from Mourinho and other teams, including from Marina Granovskaia, as one of the clubs most interested in him was Chelsea. Stay strong! @SkySport pic.twitter.com/FnC9UhMzPR— Angelo Mangiante (@angelomangiante) July 4, 2021
There was a mixed reaction to the report on Twitter with fans debating whether Spinazzola would have ever been a first-team regular under manager Thomas Tuchel anyway:
Chelsea to sign him in January.
— Osuman Kriss (@krissmato) July 4, 2021
Chilwell is better
— Eddie Gitau (@EWyregi) July 4, 2021
Glad for us he got injured.not for him obviously because he was having a great tournament⭐he would of just ended up like emerson or alonso frustrated sitting on chelseas bench???
— Lewis Connolly ⭐⭐ (@Lconnolly2020) July 4, 2021
Good player but if you see his appearances over the last 4, 5 years… He got very few games.
He’s made of glass. One tournament shouldn’t blind us to this fact
— Nicholas Benedict (@mailme2x) July 4, 2021
Not worth the gamble, u never know if he’s the same player after that injury
— Corñ (@Corn_CFC) July 4, 2021
Not a priority but if price is right
— DARREN GILLON (@GillonDarren) July 4, 2021
If he’s injured, don’t buy him! That was the same situation with bakayoko. Dude was injured but still marina bought him and he came in a flopped.
— joey??? (@lingiss_carter) July 4, 2021
With Achraf Hakimi seemingly being a real target for Chelsea, before he opted to make the move to Paris Saint-Germain, it does appear that the Blues are genuinely looking to sign a new wingback this summer.
Spinazzola is thought to have been one of the players that were considered as an alternative but, after picking up a serious injury, Granovskaia and the club’s recruitment team have almost certainly moved on to other options.