Chelsea in unique transfer battle: Club allow rivals to sign England star

8 Jul 2026 16:02 BST | 5 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

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Chelsea are caught in the midst of what might just be the most cordial transfer battle of the summer as Inter and Como seek to sign Trevoh Chalobah.

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The England star looks increasingly likely to leave his boyhood club - for good this time. For years, Chalobah had been on the chopping block, and yet he always clawed his way back into the team.

This time around, however, the situation appears to be different. Chelsea are willing to sell, and the player is keen to leave, which wasn't always the case. He reportedly has his heart set on moving to Italy.

Current ETV

Trevoh Chalobah

D (C)

Chelsea

Trevoh Chalobah

D (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€41.8M - €51.1M

This is because he is fielding interest from Serie A sides Como and Inter. The former have been trying to sign him for weeks, but the situation has become more complicated ever since the Nerazzurri entered the race.

It is now believed that Chalobah is favouring a move to the San Siro. Because of this, Como seem to be willing to give up on signing the versatile defender and to allow Inter to have a free run at him.

Como tell Inter to sign Chalobah

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Como president Mirwan Suwarso has personally called Inter chief Beppe Marotta to inform him that he does not want a bidding war and that he is ready to leave the race for Chalobah if the Milan club are indeed serious about signing him.

Romano understands that Chalobah is prioritising a move to Inter, hence Como have decided that there is no point chasing a lost cause. Suwarso told Marotta that he will "step aside" to allow Inter to sign the 27-year-old.

"President Mirwan Suwarso personally contacted Inter president Beppe Marotta to communicate the following regarding Chalobah. Chelsea are currently waiting for updates on Chalobah," Romano explained on his Italian YouTube channel. "Como communicated to Inter - again, from what I understand, this was direct contact between the presidents - that they do not want to participate in bidding wars.

"So, what Como communicated to Inter is: 'If you want to sign Chalobah in the coming days, we, Como, are ready to step aside and move on to another target. If, on the other hand, Inter choose not to proceed with Chalobah, Como remain interested and will eventually make a new offer.'

"So, Como are doing Inter a favour and giving them the opportunity to make a decision. Como prefer to handle relationships this way, and I think it is actually something quite new within Italian football to try and maintain this kind of rapport.

"Como prefer this type of relationship, leaving the choice to Inter, especially since Inter are the player's priority. Why isn't the Chalobah-Como deal being finalised? Because, clearly, Chalobah is waiting for Inter.

"So, Como are telling Inter: 'We are giving you the chance to finalise this deal if you truly want the player. We prefer to do this rather than be part of a bidding war.'

"Como do not want to get into a bidding war - offering €25 million today, 28 tomorrow, 30 the next day, 35 the day after that, when the player might just be prioritising Inter anyway. So now, everything is in Inter's hands."

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