Danilo Pantić will reject Chelsea contract extension offer — report

Danilo Pantić is looking to leave Chelsea. It’s fair to assume that he’s tired of the loan life and wants some stability in his career. But the problem is, no one is willing to pay the €3m that Chelsea reportedly want — especially his preferred club, FK Partizan in Belgrade — and therefore, Pantić wants Chelsea to release him from his contract that expires in 2021.

Unfortunately for him, football is not a charity. Since it would be difficult to sell him in the current economy, Chelsea have apparently offered a contract extension until 2023.

However, the 23-year-old is having none of that. Pantić has made it clear to the club that he wants out and will not sign any contract extension, as per Alo!, even if Chelsea would allow him to join Partizan again on loan.

This does present a bit of a conundrum. Pantić wants to go to Partizan and wants to do so for good. But if we don’t let him, he’d leave for free next summer anyway. Unless he can be convinced to join other potentially interested parties — Trabzonspor, Hellas Verona, Lecce and Genoa have also been credited with interest — Chelsea won’t be able to salvage even a tiny fee from this €1m investment.

Keeping a player against his wishes isn’t really part of Chelsea’s m.o., so surely we can work out some sort of arrangement with the player and the club of his choosing.