Chelsea’s asking price for Trevoh Chalobah has become something of a negotiating education for Como 1907. The Serie A club has had two offers knocked back already, and they’re about to try again.
Como is preparing a third bid for the 26-year-old defender, this time worth €30 million plus €5 million in performance bonuses. That total of €35 million would, in theory, meet Chelsea’s stated valuation. In practice, the gap between an asking price and a bid structured around conditional bonuses is often wider than it looks on paper.
The bidding history
Como’s first offer was €25 million plus €2 million in add-ons. Chelsea said no. The second came in at €28 million plus €2 million in bonuses. Chelsea said no again. The new bid, expected to be formally submitted during the week of July 7, represents a meaningful step up, but Chelsea’s position has stayed consistent throughout: Chalobah is worth around €35 million, and they’d like that reflected in guaranteed cash rather than hopeful performance clauses.
Chalobah made 47 appearances for Chelsea last season, a figure that demonstrates both his fitness and his importance to the squad. For a player who spent time away from the club on loan in prior seasons, that kind of consistent run is exactly what drives up his market value.
