According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Atalanta are making a strong effort to retain Chelsea loanee Marco Pasalic for next season on a more permanent basis.

As per their report, representatives from the two teams held an initial meeting two weeks ago to discuss this transfer.

The 24-year-old Pasalic may have finally found a good home in Italy — or at least, that is what he’s hoping for. Per his loan contract, the fee to make him a permanent signing is set at €15 million.

That however might be a price too steep for Atalanta to pay. Their finances are modest, and even though they might see a significant windfall from a potential Champions League qualification — they are currently fourth in Serie A — they do not want to overextend themselves with lavish spending.

So, instead of simply paying the fee already negotiated, they are trying to see how generous Chelsea just might be. Then again, maybe they should have thought about their potential financial constraints before accepting the deal in the first place...