FEATURED: Who is rumoured Chelsea target Giacinti? | OneFootball

The transfer rumour mill is well and truly up and running with Italian international forward Valentina Giacinti being the latest player to be linked with Barclays FA Women’s Super League champions Chelsea.

The 27-year-old has bagged an impressive 55 Series A goals in three-and-a-half seasons for current club AC Milan but is thought to be keen to leave The Red and Blacks.

There are rumours across various Italian media outlets that Giacinti could be a target of Chelsea along with several other clubs, although it is very difficult to see yet another goalscorer added to The Blues’ ranks given the attacking ammunition that they already boast. We know that Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has been impressed by the growth of the Italian game but given Giacinti’s age, she is no longer one for the future, she is one for the here and now and there are question marks whether she could really push Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder for regular starts.

Who is Giacinti? Here is the lowdown on the Italian international forward.

Giacinti has leadership qualities

Giacinti leads from the front for AC Milan with the attacker holding the captain’s armband. Her leadership qualities would appeal to potential new employers and she would arguably fit in with many other big personalities at Chelsea. That typical Italian attitude and fire is something that is missing from the Chelsea team, although with only one Italian playing in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League so far, there are questions whether exports from Serie A are ready for one of the best leagues in world football.

The forward’s goal record speaks for itself

Giacinti’s 55 Serie A goals have come in just 66 appearances in an AC Milan shirt, topping the league’s goalscoring charts on three occasions. While the Italian league is weaker than the Barclays FA Women’s Super League, the simple fact is that Giacinti scores goals and is a persistent threat to the opposition goal. The player has also scored eight goals for the Italian national team in just nine games in 2021, her best year on the international stage. This is a potential sign that Giacinti could be ready to step up another level.

Giacinti has spent her entire career in Italy

Giacinti has never played outside of her native Italy. The player came through Atalanta’s youth ranks before making her senior debut for the club more than a decade ago. The forward has gone on to represent Napoli, Mozzanica and Brescia before joining current club AC Milan in 2018. If Giacinti is to leave AC Milan, she could have offers from other Serie A clubs or she could opt to take a risk and move overseas for the very time to challenge herself on a new level.

Could we see Giacinti in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League in the not-so-distant future? At this stage, the transfer rumours seem relatively weak, although the player could leave AC Milan. The big question marks would be around whether she could challenge the likes of Kerr, Kirby and Harder for a place in the Chelsea team and whether she would want to move abroad as historically, Italian players very much love their home comforts.