Race intensifies to sign Chelsea midfielder as four clubs make their move

Stuttgart have entered the race to sign Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic, according to Kicker.

The German magazine reports the Bundesliga outfit have added the Croatian international to the club’s summer transfer wishlist. They may have to move quickly if they want to sign the 22 year old however. Reports in Turkey suggest Galatasaray have already bid £2.2million for the player with Sporx also stating that German clubs Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig are in the mix.

Pasalic joined Chelsea from Hajduk Split for £2m in 2014. He was immediately loaned out to newly promoted La Liga club Elche where he spent one season. He was then loaned again to Monaco in the 2015/16 season before he made the temporary switch to AC Milan last summer.

He played 27 times for the Rossoneri last season, scoring five goals and providing one assist. The player will however not be loaned out again as he has just one year on his contract, and will likely be sold permanently instead.

Moves to Germany and Turkey may interest Pasalic for different reasons. Despite having two senior caps for Croatia, he was born in Mainz and may be persuaded to return to the country of his birth. Galatasaray meanwhile are managed by Igor Tudor; a fellow countryman who is a keen admirer of the midfielder’s abilities.