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Achraf Hakimi is reported to have informed his agent that he would prefer a move to another side over Chelsea, amid claims the European champions are preparing an improved offer for the Inter Milan star.

After winning the Champions League, Chelsea are now looking to invest in more players to mount a better Premier League title challenge. They spent heavily last summer and are prepared to do so again. Signing a new striker is a priority, but they are also looking at wing-back Hakimi.

The Morocco international has established himself as one of the best in the world in recent years. After two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund from Real Madrid, he joined Inter permanently in the summer of 2020.

He has flourished in Serie A, providing seven goals and eight assists in his debut campaign there. His marauding presence down the right flank was a major element of Inter’s title success.

As per reports last week, Chelsea wanted to include Emerson Palmieri and Andreas Christensen as part of any deal.

However, that falls slightly short of Inter’s £66m valuation of Hakimi.

That has led to claims that Chelsea will launch an improved bid for the player. That could indeed still feature both Christensen and Palmieri, though with some cash added into the mix.

The Blues, though, are not Hakimi’s only suitors. Indeed, reports claim PSG have also seen an offer worth £56.1m fail.

Undeterred, they too are readying an approach that could see them match Inter’s asking price.

And with both offers likely to be acceptable to Inter, it could come down to personal choice for the player.

However, according to Ligue 1 expert Romain Collet-Gaudin, via the Daily Express, Hakimi’s ‘preference’ is to join PSG. He claims that Hakimi has set his heart on working alongside Mauricio Pochettino and is ready to snub a move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea, PSG have Hakimi reasons

Pochettino has made the capture of a new right-back a transfer priority this summer.

Previously linked with Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin, Pochettino is looking to add more flair and creativity to PSG’s right flank. To that end, the Moroccan is seen as the perfect fit.

Chelsea though have their reasons too, amid claims Thomas Tuchel wants to play a three-man central defence next season.

And with Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta both able to cover on the right of a back three, the Blues are seeking a specialist in the more advanced, wider role.

Tuchel experimented with both Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic as right wing-backs after taking over. Neither though truly convinced in the role.

The report claims that the failure to land Hakimi could see the Blues turn to Jonas Hoffman or Adama Traore.

READ MORE: Italian giants set to complete defender deal as Chelsea net tidy sum

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