There are reports that Trevoh Chalobah was seen boarding a flight to London from Bologna’s Marconi Airport yesterday morning. Meanwhile, some believe he attended the Fenerbahçe vs. Lille match in the afternoon, a playoff crucial for entering the next Champions League, where Alexsandro, another target for Bologna, played the entire match as a starter. It’s not uncommon for agents to meet in airports, connecting flights and cities.
Bologna is in need of three new players. Giovanni Sartori, known for his stealth and effectiveness in the transfer market, is in what he calls his “Cobra period,” similar to Adriano Galliani’s “Condor days.” Since the second week of August, Sartori has been active, recalling a previous summer when he signed six players in just a few weeks from mid-August to early September. Reports have emerged about Bologna’s interest in Chalobah, a 25-year-old defender from Chelsea who can also play as a right-back or defensive midfielder. Coach Enzo Maresca is looking to trim his squad, and Bologna hopes to bring Chalobah on loan, although his market value is currently capped at around €15 million due to a season plagued by injuries.
This interest does not rule out other players Bologna has been pursuing, including Alexsandro and Niakaté. The ongoing negotiation for Logan Costa is becoming frustrating, echoing previous drawn-out pursuits like those of Ioannidis and Hummels. A proposal of around €10 million has been made for Alexsandro from Lille, who successfully advanced past the previous round against Mourinho’s team. There have also been new inquiries about Daniele Rugani, who received an attractive offer from Saudi Arabia but is reportedly keen to remain in Italy.
As Bologna prepares for their upcoming match against Udinese on Sunday at 18:30, coach Vincenzo Italiano faces the challenge of doing so without six players. Currently, the midfield consists of only three regulars: Remo Freuler, Nikola Moro (who is being eyed by Hajduk Split, managed by Rino Gattuso), and Giovanni Fabbian. This puts additional pressure on the search for a midfielder, which is not a top priority but still crucial. There haven’t been decisive talks between Bologna and Sassuolo regarding Thorstvedt, but he remains an appealing option. There’s also interest in Casadei, while the club is considering a loan for Aster Vranckx, who recently returned to Wolfsburg after his time with Milan. Up front, they are eyeing Pellistri, contingent on Ndoye’s potential departure.