Leeds United Weigh £8M Swoop for Chelsea Castaway Cesare Casadei Amid Enzo Maresca Reunion
With Chelsea’s relentless spending showing no signs of slowing down, the Blues are now faced with the task of trimming their bloated squad before the summer transfer window closes. One player who has emerged as a potential Leeds United target is midfielder Cesare Casadei.
The 20-year-old Italian signed for Chelsea last year in a £12 million deal from Inter Milan, but struggled for regular game time during a loan spell at Leicester City under current Leeds boss Enzo Maresca.
Now, with Maresca having taken over the reins at Elland Road, Leeds are said to be weighing up a move to bring Casadei to West Yorkshire in a cut-price £8 million deal.
The young midfielder caught the eye during his time at the King Power Stadium, contributing 5 goals and assists in 25 appearances across all competitions. His blend of energy, creativity and goalscoring ability from deep midfield positions make him an intriguing proposition for a Leeds side seeking to rebuild after a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.
Casadei’s potential arrival would also have an added layer of intrigue given his close ties with current Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto. The two players came through the youth ranks together at Inter Milan and have represented Italy at various youth international levels, featuring together on 42 occasions.
This existing rapport and understanding could prove invaluable as Maresca seeks to quickly integrate new signings into his Leeds squad ahead of the new season.
The Whites are in the market for midfield reinforcements following the departure of Crysencio Summerville to West Ham United, and Casadei’s versatility and attacking instincts could make him the ideal candidate to fill that void.
With Chelsea willing to offload the youngster for a fee in the region of £8 million, this could represent a savvy piece of business for Leeds as they look to bounce back from last season’s struggles. Maresca is understood to be a big admirer of Casadei’s abilities, having worked with him briefly at Leicester, and a reunion at Elland Road appears an increasingly realistic prospect.
The move would also align with Leeds’ recent transfer strategy of targeting young, up-and-coming talents with significant potential – a modus operandi that has served them well in the past.
Should this deal come to fruition, it would represent a significant coup for the Yorkshire club as they seek to rebuild and reestablish themselves as a Premier League force under Maresca’s stewardship.
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