Chelsea join Inter Milan in race for Zenit St. Petersburg center back — report

In what is likely to be just a bit of negotiating tactics, Chelsea have been name-dropped in Inter Milan's pursuit of Ezequiel Garay.  The 29-year-old center back, who's played for Zenit St. Petersburg the last couple seasons after a decade on the Iberian Peninsula with Benfica, Real Madrid, and Racing Santander, is apparently a wanted man, just like his teammates Axel Witsel and Hulk.

Inter is pursuing the Argentine defender, but there is distance of about €10 million between the offer and the Russian club's demands. The contacts are ongoing but Inter faces competition especially from Chelsea who is in the market for a center back.

-source: Gianluca Di Marzio

While it's true that we are (probably) in the market for a center back despite such rumors having gone silent recently, it's doubtful that this is anything more than someone trying to get Inter to pony up the missing €10m.

That said, Garay was brought up as a last-minute John Stones alternative just prior to the transfer deadline last summer, so there's always a chance that this might be something more than just idle chatter.  I highly doubt it, but you never truly know in Silly Season.