Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, admire Venezia's Italian-Ivorian midfielder, Issa Doumbia, who is described as highly-rated. BlueCo has considered a move to Strasbourg for him as part of a development plan, and integrating him into Chelsea's first team long-term is also a possibility. Intermediaries have confirmed that there is growing interest from within the Premier League for the Italy Under-21 international, with Newcastle United and Everton also among the clubs interested in him. Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton have all watched the 22-year-old in recent months and are interested. The competition extends across Europe, with Serie A clubs Napoli, Inter Milan, and AC Milan tracking his progress, while Portuguese clubs Benfica and Sporting are also interested. Additionally, it is understood that The Friedkin Group is doing extensive background work on Doumbia, viewing both Roma and Everton as potential destinations within their network. Venezia is in a strong negotiating position as the player's contract runs until 2029 and the club is on course for promotion. The player joined Venezia in July 2024 for a reported €1.0 million, has a current Transfermarkt market value of €8.00m, and reports from April 2026 state Venezia's asking price is a firm €15 million.