Chelsea ‘rapidly’ closing in on ‘powerhouse’ defender Marco Palestra

Analysis

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Chelsea’s summer transfer window is about to kick up a notch with news that they are quickly closing in on a deal to sign Marco Palestra from Serie A side Atalanta.

David Ornstein announced an acceleration in the deal on Tuesday via The Athletic, stating that a deal is expected to be completed within hours.

Inter Milan had been hopeful of signing Palestra, who spent last season on loan at Cagliari, but it appears the draw of the Premier League has been too much for the 21-year-old to resist.

Current ETV

Marco Palestra

D, M (R)

Cagliari

Marco Palestra

D, M (R)

Cagliari

€12.6M

ETV Range

€11.3M - €13.8M

View full profile

Key details of the deal are missing, but while the player has yet to agree personal terms with Chelsea, there are no problems forecast, with his wage demands fitting the strict structure that BlueCo have put in place at the Emirates Stadium.

Palestra only has a couple of seasons of professional football behind him, so what has attracted new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso to sign the youngster?

Marco Palestra profile: What type of player are Chelsea signing?

Palestra is designated as a right wing-back and regularly played on that flank of Cagliari’s 3-5-2 system last season, but in truth he is so much more than that. He can play on either side of the defence and featured as a central midfield player last season, operating at times as both a 6 and an 8.

This ability to fill several different roles is attractive to Alonso, who seems to be gearing up for a season operating with wing-backs.

Palestra is also brave with the ball. He is a player who draws an exceptionally high foul count. In Serie A last season, he won his side 108 free-kicks – by far the highest figure in the league. Indeed, no other player won more than 82 fouls.

His strengths are primarily offensive. According to data analytics firm SciSports, Palesta was among the leading dribblers and crossers among full-backs and wing-backs in Serie A last term.

Defensively, he was not especially strong, though his role was more of a forward-thinking one.

In terms of his physical capabilities, it’s his speed that stands out. He is very quick, though SciSports’ data suggests that his stamina is an area for improvement, coming in below the average Serie A full-back.

Expert opinion: Palestra a ‘powerhouse’ defender

Italian football expert James Horncastle picked out Palestra’s physical attributes as being especially striking.

Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “Palestra was a revelation on loan from Atalanta at Cagliari this season. He is tall and well-built, but what stands out most is his speed.

“The defender is a powerhouse and earned his first Italy caps this season.”

A surprise signing

In isolation, Chelsea’s move for Palesta makes logical sense. He is a player who can come in and operate in several different roles, acting as a backup for the injury-prone Reece James and likely signalling the end of Malo Gusto’s time at Stamford Bridge.

But in the wider context of the club, in many ways it is surprising to see them add another such player to their ranks early in the transfer window.

Senior figures in the squad, including the unsettled Enzo Fernandez, have grown concerned about the lack of experienced leaders in the ranks of the Stamford Bridge side. Palestra, who was not even deemed worth being in Atalanta’s squad for last season, certainly does not tick this box.

Chelsea are signing yet another rough gem in the hope that they can polish it up. Alonso worked wonders with such players in Leverkusen, but Stamford Bridge is a different environment entirely and the heat is on for the club to get this one right.