Chelsea are interested in signing Inter Milan playmaker Nicolo Barella, according to reports in the Italian media.

The Blues are expected to have observers keeping tabs on the 26-year-old, along with a number of Premier League clubs, when Inter take on Manchester City in the Champions League final this Saturday.

Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United, Arsenal, as well as City themselves, are also considering bids for Barella ahead of the summer transfer window.

Inter are, however, unlikely to let the Italian international leave on the cheap, with it being claimed that the Nerazzurri will want between €80m (£69m) and €90m (£78m) for the player.

Barella is not a priority transfer target for Chelsea

While the Blues are, unsurprisingly, admirers of Barella, there is very little chance that they will sanction such a sizeable offer for the midfielder.

The main reason for that is Enzo Fernandez. The Argentinian made his £107m move to Stamford Bridge in January but he was asked to play a lot deeper than his natural position during the first few months of his time at the club.

It is believed that the main goal for the summer is to bring in more holding midfield players in order to free up Fernandez to play further up the pitch.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino’s number one priority was believed to be Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte. However, that move appears to have collapsed after the Uruguayan received a lucrative contract offer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Still, it is felt that Chelsea will now move on to pursue other defensive midfielders, such as Brighton’s Moises Caicedo. At the moment, it seems unlikely that the London club will invest any time in pursuing Barella. If he does leave Inter in the coming weeks, it looks almost certain that he would move to a Premier League rival.