Chelsea intercepts the best defender of Serie A from Inter

London Chelsea are preparing to complete the transfer of Atalanta defender Marco Palestra. According to sources, the transfer fee will exceed £43m and the young Italian will be the club's first signing in the Xabi Alonso era. For a long time, it was believed that Palestra would continue his career with the champions of Italy, Inter Milan. There has been serious interest in the player following his highly successful loan spell at Cagliari last season, where he was named Serie A's best defender. However, the course of events changed dramatically after 24 hours of intensive negotiations with representatives of the London club. As Italian insiders note, Inter was unable to offer the player financial terms that could compete with the contract from the former. Therefore, moving to the Premier League became a priority option for the 21-year-old football player. At Stamford Bridge, Palestra, who has already made his debut for the Italian national team this year, is seen as an extremely important tactical element. The defender is known for his versatility: he is able to cover any flank equally effectively, both in the role of an attacking wingback and a classic fullback. This transfer underlines the level of confidence the management has in Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard, which gives him wider powers in transfer matters. Alonso personally approved the purchase of the Palestra. Last season, the Italian defender played 37 matches in Serie A, scoring one goal and providing four assists.