Chelsea target set to join Uruguayan club… then immediately look for another move

JONATHAN CALLERI will sign for Uruguayan club Deportivo Maldonando before continuing to look for a club in Europe.

 

Guus Hiddink has been linked with a move to bring Calleri to London

 

The Boca Juniors forward has been linked with a move to Europe, expressing a preference for Chelsea or Manchester City in England.

The 22-year-old has also hinted at a move to Spain but Inter Milan appeared to have a deal lined up.

But third-party ownership regulations over the player complicated matters and now Calleri's father has revealed that he will move to Uruguay and attempt to secure a January loan move.

 

“Jonathan will go to Deportivo Maldonado, we have an agreement,” Guillermo Calleri told Italian outlet Calciomercato.

“After that we’ll look for the best solution for him. The lad wants to play in Italy, but he needs a club which will focus on letting him play.

“Palermo are interested in him, and playing for such a big club, with a coach like [Guillermo Barros] Schelotto would be perfect for him.

 

“We’ll see if a deal materialises. The process for acquiring dual-nationality is almost complete. 

"By the 28th of January I’ll be in Italy, and Jonathan will be an EU-player in every respect.

“In my opinion, Inter didn’t show proper interest in Jonathan.

 

"The deal with them won’t be done, and therefore Bologna have pulled back too.”

Once Calleri gains EU citizenship any move to Europe will be much easier to process as he will not need to gain a work permit.

And while Italy is clearly his stated preference, Chelsea may be hoping their Spanish-speaking contingent can convince the player that he can settle in England.