The Cambiaso saga has taken a significant new turn. The axis between Juventus and Chelsea is warming rapidly, with the full-back at the centre of discussions that have now broadened to encompass a second front of transfer activity: the search for a striker for Spalletti. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea have put a fee of €27 to €28 million on the table as their opening proposal for Cambiaso — enough to give Juventus hope that a deal can be done, but some way short of the €40 million the club are seeking.
Why Jackson Is the Key to Closing the Gap
To bridge the difference between Chelsea’s opening offer and Juventus’s asking price, the Blues are willing to include Nicolas Jackson in the deal. The Senegalese striker, returning to Stamford Bridge after a loan spell at Bayern Munich, would help Chelsea meet Cambiaso’s valuation whilst simultaneously addressing one of Spalletti’s most pressing needs.
Jackson represents an intriguing proposition for Juventus on its own merits. Physically imposing and technically capable, he has accumulated experience at the highest level in both the Premier League and the Bundesliga — precisely the kind of proven, international-quality centre-forward that Spalletti has been seeking. His inclusion in the deal would transform it from a straightforward sale into a creative piece of business that addresses multiple problems simultaneously — exactly the kind of thinking that has defined Carnevali’s career.
Barcelona Still in the Picture — with Araujo
Barcelona remain in competition, maintaining their interest and continuing to offer Ronald Araujo as a makeweight in a potential swap. However, it is Chelsea who are making the more concrete progress. Juventus’s preference, as repeatedly stated by Carnevali, is for a clean cash transaction — and Chelsea’s ability to structure a deal combining cash and a player of Jackson’s calibre gives them a meaningful advantage over the Catalans’ swap-only approach.
A Gap Still to Bridge — but the Direction of Travel Is Clear
The situation remains in its early stages. Chelsea continue to monitor Cambiaso closely while Juventus hold firm on their valuation. The coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether the gap can be narrowed sufficiently to turn initial contacts into a concrete negotiation.
What is clear is that the momentum in this transfer sits firmly with Chelsea. Xabi Alonso’s personal admiration for Cambiaso, the club’s financial firepower following the Cucurella sale, and now the creative possibility of including Jackson in the package all point in one direction. For Juventus, the question is whether the final numbers can be made to work — and whether Jackson fits the specific profile Spalletti has in mind for his attack. If the answers to both are yes, this could become one of the summer’s most significant deals.
