Lazio winger Antonio Candreva is reportedly one of three Italy internationals manager Antonio Conte wants to sign for Chelsea. 

Conte will take over at Chelsea when his time as Italy manager comes to an end following Euro 2016, and Candreva is one of his key targets for his Stamford Bridge rebuild, alongside compatriots Leonardo Bonucci and Emanuele Giaccherini, per La Repubblica (via Calciomercato).

The report added that Chelsea have a “€30 million (£23.1 million) offer ready for Candreva.”

Such a bid could seemingly be enough to persuade Lazio to sell Candreva given the Serie A club’s reported demands that emerged when Inter Milan made an offer for the 29-year-old, per sports journalist Siavoush Fallahi:

Candreva could be an excellent addition to a Chelsea squad that struggled throughout last season and finished 10th in the Premier League having won the title in 2014-15.

Predominantly a right-sided player—he can also play on the left or through the middle—Candreva is able to play deep on the flank as a wing-back or further forward as a conventional winger.

Per Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones, Conte is likely to try a three-man defence at Chelsea—hence why Italy and Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian has been linked with the Blues—and Candreva would make such a transition easier:

He already knows how to work in Conte’s system having played under him for Italy.

Last season in Serie A he netted 10 times, the third term in succession he has reached double figures for goals in the Italian top flight, per WhoScored.com.

Given his ability to also create with crosses from wide areas, run at defenders and contribute at set pieces, Candreva looks a prime candidate to be one of Conte’s first signings at Chelsea.

Juventus centre-back Bonucci, 29, would also be a fine addition to the Blues squad, but it seems unlikely the Old Lady will be willing to let him go as he currently makes up arguably the best defensive trio in Europe, alongside Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli.

The player himself would also surely be loath to leave Juventus for a club not able to offer him Champions League football next season.

Chelsea may have more luck with Sunderland’s Giaccherini, who played under Conte at Juve between 2011 and 2013, with his agent, Furio Valcareggi, having recently suggested the 31-year-old attacking midfielder would be open to a Stamford Bridge move, per SportItalia (via Sky Sports’ Matthew Treadwell):

Giaccherini is a player who played 80 per cent of the games for a Juventus that had Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal and Marchisio in the midfield. 

Conte likes him a lot and Chelsea would be a dream. 

It’s still too early to talk about his future. After the Euros, whoever wants to buy him will not have to pay a high price to Sunderland.

Giaccherini only has a year left on his current Black Cats deal so would be an inexpensive purchase but, seeing as he spent last season on loan at Bologna having failed to claim a spot in the Sunderland first team, he arguably does not have the quality to make the grade at Chelsea.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/28Mlzww
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J