Chelsea are reportedly expected to reject any loan bids from Championship clubs for Cesare Casadei.

Last summer, the Blues pushed through a €20m deal, including add-ons, for the midfielder, despite him having never represented the Inter Milan first team.

Casadei spent the first half of the season in the Under-21 setup before being loaned out to Reading, where he was provided with 15 appearances in the second tier of English football.

Aside from a well-taken goal against Blackburn Rovers, Casadei did not necessarily make a notable impact with the Royals, and a similar loan period for 2023-24 was expected ahead of the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino.

However, the trajectory of the 20-year-old's development has since changed, with Casadei guiding Italy to the Under-20 World Cup final and earning both the top goalscorer and best player of the tournament accolades.

As it stands, there is a desire for Pochettino to assess Casadei during pre-season in the event that it is deemed that he can become a part of his first-team squad at Stamford Bridge.

Nevertheless, a loan departure still remains the most likely outcome, and it was reported earlier this week that Leicester City - now managed by Italian Enzo Maresca - were keen on securing his services for the upcoming campaign.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, a further three teams from the Championship are interested in handing Casadei a key role in their squads.

That said, Romano says that Chelsea officials are currently contemplating opportunities for Casadei in the Premier League or Serie A.

Recently, it was suggested that Juventus are admirers of Casadei, but Chelsea would only consider a straight loan deal if they were to do business with the Italian giants.

The West Londoners are said to view Casadei as a key part of their future project, with the assumption being that a solid campaign in a top-tier league would lead to a promotion to the Chelsea senior ranks in 2024-25.

Casadei still has five years remaining on his contract, while Chelsea are already in a position where they will raise well in excess of £200m through player sales this summer.

Pochettino is in a position where he requires fresh faces for midfield, though, with Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher currently the solitary senior options on the basis that Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mason Mount join AC Milan and Manchester United as expected.

Chelsea are interested in securing a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo, while Pochettino could also look to Carney Chukwuemeka and Andrey Santos. body check tags ::