Leicester City are reportedly prepared to push for the loan signing of Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei.
Having suffered relegation from the Premier League, the Foxes are now attempting to rebuild under newly-appointed boss Enzo Maresca.
With a wide array of players having left the King Power Stadium and more likely to follow, the former Manchester City coach has been proactive in the transfer market.
Conor Coady, Callum Doyle and Harry Winks have all arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, and they are all widely regarded as coups for the Championship club.
Nevertheless, there are no signs of Maresca slowing down with his bid to stamp his authority on Leicester's senior ranks, particularly when more funds could be added to the coffers from the sale of Harvey Barnes.
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According to The Telegraph, Maresca is eager to acquire the services of Italian compatriot Casadei for 2023-24.
On the back of a £17m move from Inter Milan, Casadei failed to make a senior outing for Chelsea last season, instead moving to Reading on loan in January.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a solid, yet unspectacular, spell at the Royals, scoring once in 15 appearances, yet his performances at the recent Under-20 World Cup have led to a sharp rise in his reputation.
Casadei contributed seven goals and two assists as he helped guide Italy to the final, subsequently winning the Golden Ball and Golden Boot for the competition.
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Mauricio Pochettino is currently assessing the qualities of Casadei in pre-season training, with Casadei now viewed as a player who can make an impact in the senior ranks in the future.
Nevertheless, his current participation in training is partly owing to the amount of midfielders that have departed Stamford Bridge this summer, with a loan exit still looking likely.
The West Londoners would preferably like to see Casadei play a full season in either the Premier League or a top flight abroad, with Serie A an obvious option for someone who came through Inter's academy setup and already has two caps with the Under-21s.
If Chelsea retain that stance, Leicester may remain as outsiders for the prospect, but the opportunity to become a star man in a promotion-chasing side under a head coach with a growing reputation may keep the East Midlands outfit in the hunt.
Darren Plant
