Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei set for Championship loan move to Reading amid Moises Caicedo interest

Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei is set to seal a loan move to Championship side Reading before the end of the transfer window, according to reports.

The Italian youngster arrived from Inter Milan in the summer as Chelsea increased their youth investment.

This saw Gabriel Slonina, Omari Hutchinson and Carney Chukwuemeka also join along with a host of first team stars.

Those previous three mentioned have all been involved with Graham Potter’s first team in recent months, but Casadei has stayed among the youth ranks and impressed for Mark Robins’ side.

Casadei is now set to embark on the next part of his development process since joining from Inter, with a loan move expected to be complete.

As reported by Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Mail, Casadei will complete a loan move to Reading next week.

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Chelsea hold a strong relationship with the Championship side with Danny Drinkwater and Baba Rahman (still a Blues player) spending time on loan at the club in recent seasons.

Casadei will join the Ghana international on the books in Berkshire as he seeks first team football for the remainder of the season.

The likes of Lewis Baker, Lucas Piazon and John Swift also spent time at Reading during loan spells from Chelsea and the Blues will be hopeful of game time benefiting Casadei.

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Casadei’s departure comes as Chelsea have been heavily linked with midfield reinforcements towards the end of the January transfer window.

With a bid already rejected for Moises Caicedo, Chelsea could re-enter the race for the Ecuador international as Arsenal are also interested in his signature.

The 21-year-old took to social media in a transfer plea, where he stated that he wishes to leave Brighton for a club record fee before the end of the window.

Elsewhere, Chelsea still retain strong interet in Enzo Fernandez despite a deal being complicated to complete in the January transfer window while Romeo Lavia of Southampton is also a long-term target.

Potter’s side are sure to be busy towards the final days of the transfer window, and Casadei appears to be the first departure of January.