Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing 21-year-old Argentine striker Santiago Castro from Serie A club Bologna.

According to a report by Italian outlet Quotidiano Sportivo, Santiago Castro is the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues are keen on reinforcing their offensive unit by signing another striker next year. So, the 21-year-old Bologna centre-forward has emerged as a target for the West London outfit.

The Serie A club will demand around €50-70 million to part ways with the South American attacking whizkid. Meanwhile, Chelsea dispatched senior scout Claudio Damiani to watch Castro in a recent match. However, the trip was “fruitless” due to Castro’s non-participation in the game, with Damiani departing after Bologna completed the fifth substitution.

Santiago Castro has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Serie A since joining Bologna from Velez Sarsfield in January 2024. The 21-year-old has made considerable progress in the near-two years he has spent in Italy, having become the youngest Bologna player in history to have scored at least ten goals in Serie A.

The Argentine striker has chipped in with 12 goals and ten assists in 61 appearances thus far for Bologna. Meanwhile, Castro’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Premier League outfits, in particular, have been keen on signing the youngster for a long time. Chelsea will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature next year.

Santiago Castro has been on Chelsea’s radar for a long time. The continued interest is surprising, as the West London club signed Joao Pedro and Liam Delap in the summer transfer window. However, that has never stopped Chelsea from pursuing bright young prospects, illustrating that perfectly this past summer.

Nicolas Jackson was solid in his first two seasons with Chelsea, yet the West London outfit signed two strikers in the summer transfer window. So, it is understandable why the 2024/25 FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League winners have set their sights on the young striker.

However, Chelsea’s recent scouting trip to watch Castro was not fruitful, as Castro did not participate in the match where Claudio Damiani was present in the stands. Meanwhile, Bologna will demand around €50-70 million to part ways with the 21-year-old Argentine striker. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the youngster.