Chelsea could pay up to €37m (£32m) if they decided to sign Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria on a permanent basis.
Juve have confirmed that the Blues will pay a €3m loan fee, with an additional €1m in bonuses. If Thomas Tuchel’s side do take up their option to buy the Swiss international at the end of the season, he will cost another €28m (plus €5m in bonuses).
While some believe that the club would be overpaying hugely if they do go ahead and sign Zakaria, others feel that the 25-year-old has what it takes to succeed at Stamford Bridge:
Thank God we're not gonna sign him permanent
— Brendan🇩🇪✨ (@TacticalChels_) September 2, 2022
I believe he can do justice to that position. We just need someone who can’t be easy dribbled and beat with pace, someone who commit unnecessary errors, easily dispossessed and can’t make a run at time due. I think he can give us that
— tommy_java (@Ayooluwatomiwa6) September 2, 2022
I pray to God that we’ve misunderstood him and he plays like prime xabi alonso
— Gh0s1 (@Gh0st0304) September 2, 2022
Not a bad deal tbh, hope he plays well so we actually buy him and fill that hole in midfield
— CFCbasil⭐️⭐️ (@basilnadeem2) September 2, 2022
this guy will come good, i just want anyone but jorginho
— JAKES (@cfcjakes) September 2, 2022
They paid £4m for him this year plus he only plays 10 games a season on average – mugged off
— David Morrell (@DavidMo60253972) September 2, 2022
Have a feeling boy will do well…Gives Kovacic vibes
— SouthKBStona (@southkbstona) September 2, 2022
Bench material
— Aziztheright (@aziztheright) September 2, 2022
The fee included in the purchase option does seem a bit steep, considering Juventus paid only around €4.5m for the player back in January. Of course, he only had six months remaining on his contract at the time, but it is still an eightfold markup.
For Zakaria to justify the price, he will need to prove that he can perform well on a consistent basis, whilst solving some of Chelsea’s problems in the middle of the park.