According to a report from Fichajes, Chelsea are closely monitoring Joaquin Panichelli ahead of a potential move this summer. The Blues are quite impressed with his performances this season and are considering making a move for him.
Panichelli started with River Plate before making the move to Spain at the start of 2023. He went up the ranks at Alaves at some pace and got promoted to their first team in the summer of 2024. While they did promote him to their senior side, the youngster was unlikely to get much game time in the top flight. As a result, they ended up sending him out on loan to CD Mirandes.
He has been on fire since joining the Spanish second-division outfit. The 22-year-old has featured in a total of 37 matches, and he has contributed towards 22 goals. His two-footed finishing, sharp movement inside the box, and composure in the final third have caught the attention of several top clubs.
While he is set to return to his parent club in the summer and still has four years left on his deal there, his future looks away from Alaves. The Vitoria-Gasteiz-based club are currently fighting for survival in the Spanish top flight. Even if they do manage to stay up, they could still find it very difficult to keep hold of the 22-year-old, given the kind of clubs that are after his signature.
Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs that are interested in his signature. The Blues are constantly on the lookout for young players with massive potential and feel Panichelli could be a great addition to their squad for the long run. For now, he can cover for Nicolas Jackson, pertaining to which Chelsea have also shown interest in Emanuel Emegha, before eventually competing with him for a place in the XI.
The West London club have shown clear interest in him and could step up their pursuit of his signature in the coming weeks. With multiple top clubs monitoring him, they could face significant competition for his signature. Meanwhile, Alaves will hope they can raise significant funds from his departure.
RC Strasbourg are also interested in his signature, so the Blues could look to sign him and then loan him out to their sister club in France. Panichelli is ready to make the move to an elite club, but a lot will depend on the project and the amount of game time he is promised.
