Chelsea and Liverpool are keen on signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol.

The journalist isn’t the most reliable of sources but he claims that he has heard that the two Premier League sides are “interested” in the Italian international:

“Marco Verratti may be leaving Paris this summer. I think PSG’s official position is that the player is not for sale, but I think, reading between the lines, they would listen to offers for him, offers that match their valuation. I think their valuation is about £70m.”

“We have also been told that two Premier League clubs are interested in signing him. The names we were told were Liverpool and Chelsea. We haven’t been able to confirm that, it could be he’s a player who has been offered to Liverpool and Chelsea – by agents or intermediaries who are trying to make some money and they know Liverpool and Chelsea are looking for midfielders, but it looks like he could be a player who could be leaving PSG in the next few weeks.”

It’s probably wise to wait and see whether these rumours are substantiated by other journalists but it is an intriguing link nonetheless.

Pochettino has worked with Verratti before

One of the reasons why the links to the PSG star may have some credence is down to the fact that Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino managed the player during the 2021/22 season.

The Argentine would have seen up close what Verratti is capable of and, if the reports are accurate that he is on the market this summer, Pochettino may be keen to bring him in. Chelsea are very short of numbers in midfield and adding someone to the squad with the Italian’s experience would seem like a smart move.

Chelsea may not have £70m to spend on another midfielder

The big stumbling block would likely be Verratti’s asking price. The London club are currently locked in talks with Brighton about signing Moises Caicedo and, with the Ecuadorian expected to cost in excess of £80m, it’s hard to see them paying a similar fee for Verratti as well.

When you consider the fact that he is 30 years of age too, it doesn’t really correlate with Chelsea’s recruitment strategy. If he becomes available for a lower fee then it may become a more realistic transfer.