Chelsea defender Sam McClelland is attracting Serie A interest.

Promoted Venezia have expressed interest in the young stopper, though aren't the only Serie A club keen, reports TMW.

Venezia have come forward to register their interest and are eager to wrap up a deal for McClelland quickly in the face of local Italian competition. Venezia are likely to seek an initial loan arrangement for McClelland. They reached Serie A via last season's Serie B promotion play-offs.

Northern Ireland international McClelland is inside the final year of his current deal at Chelsea. The 19 year-old joined the Blues from Coleraine in 2018, choosing the Londoners ahead of a raft of rival English offers.

McClelland earned his one cap with Northern Ireland this summer, playing in a friendly defeat to Ukraine. Last season, the defender managed eleven appearances with Chelsea's Premier League 2 team.

Interestingly, McClelland counts on Italian Patrick Bastianelli as his prime agent.

- updated August 3