Last summer, Chelsea were on the verge of securing the signature of Bayer Leverkusen's rising star, Kerim Alaibegovich. Ultimately, the 18-year-old chose to join Juventus, with the club's development plan being a decisive factor in his choice.
The Blues were keen to push through a deal for the promising winger. Head coach Xabi Alonso personally engaged with the player and Leverkusen's management, believing an investment of around €40 million would be a smart move.
However, Chelsea's squad dynamics hindered the transfer. The London side was unable to guarantee Alaibegovich a spot in the starting eleven immediately, as competition on his flank, particularly with Morgan Rogers, was fierce. Hence, they contemplated sending the new recruit out on loan.
As reported by TuttoMercatoWeb, Chelsea's hopes of finalising the deal were dashed when Juventus entered the fray. Napoli and Atalanta also expressed interest in the midfielder.
The Old Lady offered Alaibegovich clear assurances of regular first-team football, tipping the scales in favour of his move to Italy. Ultimately, Juventus secured the midfielder’s rights from Leverkusen for just €32 million plus bonuses, a figure lower than Chelsea's proposed deal.
Upon arriving in Turin, the young talent was quickly given his opportunity, with a injury to Kenan Yildiz accelerating his integration into the Juventus first team.
