Chelsea have reportedly set a new asking price for recently-recalled defender Trevoh Chalobah.
The Blues confirmed last week that they had taken the opportunity to bring Chalobah back to Stamford Bridge after injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.
Head coach Enzo Maresca insisted that it had been 'an easy decision' to reunite with the academy graduate despite the Italian leaving him out of his plans during the summer.
Chalobah is now preparing for Monday's Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers with there being a realistic possibility that he could start in the back four.
Nevertheless, it has been suggested that Chelsea remain open to permanent bids for the 25-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window.
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What is Chalobah's new asking price?
According to The Sun, club officials now feel that they are in a position to demand an increased asking price for Chalobah.
Rather than the £25m that they wanted during the summer, Chelsea chiefs have now placed a £40m price-tag on the versatile defender.
That is a consequence of Chalobah's having starred for Palace during the first half of the season, scoring three times in his 14 starts in all competitions.
Furthermore, Palace conceded just 18 goals during those fixtures, Chalobah contributing to five victories and three clean sheets.
Nevertheless, the report adds that Palace have no intention of meeting Chelsea's valuation for Chalobah ahead of 2025-26, even with Marc Guehi potentially being available for transfer for a marginally higher price.
Chalobah still has three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract with Chelsea.
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Any chance of long-term Chalobah stay?
When fit, Maresca already has Fofana, Levi Colwill, Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong, Axel Disasi and Aaron Anselmino as central-defensive options.
While some of those players will realistically be moved on in due course, either in the short or long term, Chalobah remains Chelsea's biggest available asset at the back.
Co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have already shown that they are willing to generate pure profit from the sales of homegrown talent, and offers will likely always be invited for a player like Chalobah while he is contracted to the club.
That said, the player has an opportunity to make his mark under Maresca and encourage Chelsea to find other ways of complying with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Darren Plant
