Now that Euro 2016 is over, the focus shifts back to domestic football. 

The Premier League season will kick off in just five weeks, with Chelsea facing West Ham United on the opening weekend.

New head coach Antonio Conte has it all to do in that time. Not only will the Italian be taking Chelsea on tours of Austria and the United States in the coming weeks, he is faced with the prospect of having to rebuild a squad that is in desperate need of a shakeup. Chelsea have gaps in defence, while midfield remains a big concern.

As ever, those players who performed well at the European Championship are making headlines, so who would have caught Conte‘s eye?

Ignoring the unattainable players such as Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, Bleacher Report looks at three Euro 2016 stars who would fit in well under the new regime at Stamford Bridge.

N’Golo Kante

Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante started off as a first-choice selection for France this summer, but as the tournament progressed, he found himself in a supporting role from the bench. It was more to do with the needs of tournament football than a lack of ability on the player’s part, though.

France had to approach games in a different way and as their momentum grew on the back of Didier Deschamps‘ tweaks to the system, Kante was a casualty of the manager not wanting to damage what France were building.

That said, Premier League fans know all about Kante‘s talents. He showed for Leicester last season just how effective he is in the middle of the park, breaking up play and starting attacks. He is even effective in the final third, following the flow of matches to get forward and play a part.

For Chelsea fans, the 25-year-old has the look of a man who can be the heir to Claude Makelele. He is similar in that he rarely loses possession and can anchor the midfield like his compatriot did over a decade ago for the west London club.

That era with Makelele at the heart of midfield was arguably the best Chelsea have been in the Premier League. Jose Mourinho built his team around a physical presence that few could match; with Arjen Robben and Damien Duff on the flanks, the Blues were able to attack teams at pace and punish them.

Conte will set Chelsea up in a different style, although the principles will be the same. He’ll be looking for players who can give the team an edge again and with their shortcomings in midfield last season, the Leicester man could be a solution.

Kante is the man for Conte (we couldn’t resist it).

Ivan Perisic

He wasn’t one of the biggest stars at Euro 2016, yet Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic received plenty of attention—and not just for his wacky hairstyle.

Perisic showed how effective he can be when teams turn over possession and attack opponents. Spain found that to their detriment in the group stage when the 27-year-old broke free to score Croatia’s winner late on in that game.

Perisic‘s goal won Croatia the group and meant Spain went on to face—and lose to—Conte‘s Italy in the last 16.

Currently at Inter Milan, Perisic fits the bill for what Conte needs in this Chelsea side. Playing in a wide position, he’s unlike the Blues’ other attacking midfielders.

The Stamford Bridge club have a host of No. 10s—or at least players who fancy themselves as such—whereas Conte‘s teams have traditionally used wingers to good effect.

If we’re going to see two strikers leading the line, they will need good service into the box, too. That comes from utilising the wide areas as two front men can mean it’s congested in central areas.

Perisic enjoyed a good first season with Inter last year, which he built on with Croatia this summer. Don’t be surprised to see him attracting the attention of some big clubs in Europe—and perhaps Chelsea.

Ragnar Sigurdsson

The joker in our pack, Ragnar Sigurdsson would hardly have registered on the radar of many scouts heading into Euro 2016.

But if we’re judging players purely on what they achieved in France this summer, the Iceland centre-back wouldn’t be too far from escaping the attention of managers looking to plug the holes in a leaking defence.

Would he be a glamorous signing? Hardly. But would he fit in at Chelsea? There’s a good chance.

What we saw from Sigurdsson this summer was his ability to follow tactics and carry out his manager’s instructions to the nth degree. Iceland’s success was built around solid defensive displays—we’re ignoring the 5-2 crushing by France here—and it was because of the likes of the FC Krasnodar man that they were able to pull it off.

There are many bigger names who grab the attention. Players such as Leonardo Bonucci are the major stars when we consider defenders, yet Sigurdsson has matched them when it comes to his international performances.

No defender made more tackles than Sigurdsson at the Euros, while he also recorded three blocks and 27 clearances in his five games.

That was largely down to the defensive style Iceland deployed, meaning he was called into action more than others. What it equally shows, though, is that he is a capable defender who can compete against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.

Sigurdsson wouldn’t be an immediate first-choice buy for Conte. For a squad that has started with pre-season with just one recognised first-team defender, though, a player such as the 30-year-old could help to bolster numbers.

The big question would be his ability to continue that Euro 2016 form in a more pressurised environment over the course of a season.

Bleacher Report’s lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.

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Now that Euro 2016 is over, the focus shifts back to domestic football. 

The Premier League season will kick off in just five weeks, with Chelsea facing West Ham United on the opening weekend.

New head coach Antonio Conte has it all to do in that time. Not only will the Italian be taking Chelsea on tours of Austria and the United States in the coming weeks, he is faced with the prospect of having to rebuild a squad that is in desperate need of a shakeup. Chelsea have gaps in defence, while midfield remains a big concern.

As ever, those players who performed well at the European Championship are making headlines, so who would have caught Conte‘s eye?

Ignoring the unattainable players such as Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, Bleacher Report looks at three Euro 2016 stars who would fit in well under the new regime at Stamford Bridge.

N’Golo Kante

Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante started off as a first-choice selection for France this summer, but as the tournament progressed, he found himself in a supporting role from the bench. It was more to do with the needs of tournament football than a lack of ability on the player’s part, though.

France had to approach games in a different way and as their momentum grew on the back of Didier Deschamps‘ tweaks to the system, Kante was a casualty of the manager not wanting to damage what France were building.

That said, Premier League fans know all about Kante‘s talents. He showed for Leicester last season just how effective he is in the middle of the park, breaking up play and starting attacks. He is even effective in the final third, following the flow of matches to get forward and play a part.

For Chelsea fans, the 25-year-old has the look of a man who can be the heir to Claude Makelele. He is similar in that he rarely loses possession and can anchor the midfield like his compatriot did over a decade ago for the west London club.

That era with Makelele at the heart of midfield was arguably the best Chelsea have been in the Premier League. Jose Mourinho built his team around a physical presence that few could match; with Arjen Robben and Damien Duff on the flanks, the Blues were able to attack teams at pace and punish them.

Conte will set Chelsea up in a different style, although the principles will be the same. He’ll be looking for players who can give the team an edge again and with their shortcomings in midfield last season, the Leicester man could be a solution.

Kante is the man for Conte (we couldn’t resist it).

Ivan Perisic

He wasn’t one of the biggest stars at Euro 2016, yet Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic received plenty of attention—and not just for his wacky hairstyle.

Perisic showed how effective he can be when teams turn over possession and attack opponents. Spain found that to their detriment in the group stage when the 27-year-old broke free to score Croatia’s winner late on in that game.

Perisic‘s goal won Croatia the group and meant Spain went on to face—and lose to—Conte‘s Italy in the last 16.

Currently at Inter Milan, Perisic fits the bill for what Conte needs in this Chelsea side. Playing in a wide position, he’s unlike the Blues’ other attacking midfielders.

The Stamford Bridge club have a host of No. 10s—or at least players who fancy themselves as such—whereas Conte‘s teams have traditionally used wingers to good effect.

If we’re going to see two strikers leading the line, they will need good service into the box, too. That comes from utilising the wide areas as two front men can mean it’s congested in central areas.

Perisic enjoyed a good first season with Inter last year, which he built on with Croatia this summer. Don’t be surprised to see him attracting the attention of some big clubs in Europe—and perhaps Chelsea.

Ragnar Sigurdsson

The joker in our pack, Ragnar Sigurdsson would hardly have registered on the radar of many scouts heading into Euro 2016.

But if we’re judging players purely on what they achieved in France this summer, the Iceland centre-back wouldn’t be too far from escaping the attention of managers looking to plug the holes in a leaking defence.

Would he be a glamorous signing? Hardly. But would he fit in at Chelsea? There’s a good chance.

What we saw from Sigurdsson this summer was his ability to follow tactics and carry out his manager’s instructions to the nth degree. Iceland’s success was built around solid defensive displays—we’re ignoring the 5-2 crushing by France here—and it was because of the likes of the FC Krasnodar man that they were able to pull it off.

There are many bigger names who grab the attention. Players such as Leonardo Bonucci are the major stars when we consider defenders, yet Sigurdsson has matched them when it comes to his international performances.

No defender made more tackles than Sigurdsson at the Euros, while he also recorded three blocks and 27 clearances in his five games.

That was largely down to the defensive style Iceland deployed, meaning he was called into action more than others. What it equally shows, though, is that he is a capable defender who can compete against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.

Sigurdsson wouldn’t be an immediate first-choice buy for Conte. For a squad that has started with pre-season with just one recognised first-team defender, though, a player such as the 30-year-old could help to bolster numbers.

The big question would be his ability to continue that Euro 2016 form in a more pressurised environment over the course of a season.

Bleacher Report’s lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.

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UEFA Euro 2016 came to a dramatic end on Sunday, with Portugal clinching a late 1-0 victory over host nation France despite captain and key man Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the game before half-time due to injury.

That surprising triumph drew the summer tournament to an end, with the focus now shifting back to domestic football. Juventus are among many clubs to have already started their pre-season training camp, last week seeing a large group of players report for duty at their Vinovo headquarters.

“Enthusiasm is always important,” coach Massimiliano Allegri told Juve‘s in-house channel JTV—per the club’s official website—before going on to discuss the objectives for the 2016/17 campaign.

Allegri said: 

Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign. And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it. That said, we need to take it steady, work every day and lay the foundations for a great season between now and 31 August, when the campaign gets underway.

Allegri also revealed that the players who had been away on international duty would not return until August 1, “apart from [Mario] Mandzukic, Dani Alves and [Stephan] Lichtsteiner, who will be here from 26 July.”

That early start could prove hugely important to the first of that trio, with the Croatia international seemingly set for an even more prominent role following Alvaro Morata‘s return to Real Madrid.

As discussed in this previous post, the exit of the 23-year-old Spanish star leaves a major void in the Juventus attack, with the club now only having three recognised strikers available for first-team selection.

With Paulo Dybala recording a staggering 22 goals and nine assists in his debut campaign for the Old Lady, it is almost certainly a question of who starts alongside him up front. That role became Mandzukic‘s with increasing regularity last term, something he must ensure continues when action resumes next month.

When he joined Juventus in July 2015, the striker told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) that he chose the Bianconeri “above all because Allegri really wanted me,” before discussing his relationship with the coach in further detail.

“After a little time we started to understand each other better and better, and now we understand each other perfectly,” Mandzukic continued. “He’s a great guy, and that’s an important quality for me. I like to talk with him, and we joke a lot. He’s a great coach too, he knows so much about football. We have a super relationship.”

Watching him play for any period of time makes it easy to understand why Allegri has such an appreciation for the 30-year-old, his play a study in how to harass defenders and score important goals with equal aplomb.

But with Juventus having paid a fee of €19 million, according to the club’s official website, Mandzukic struggled to repay that investment with his performances on the pitch. He broke the deadlock in the club’s 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana triumph over Lazio in late August, before a fine goal against Manchester City in the Champions League showed a great understanding with Paul Pogba.

That game in September was won 2-1 by the Bianconeri, with the Croatian’s goal helping his new side clinch three vital points. By the time Serie A took its traditional winter break, he had already scored six league goals while also netting in the return clash with City at Juventus Stadium.

Yet that deadly touch in the opposition box would desert him after Christmas, Mandzukic failing to hit the target until an early April win over Empoli. That was quickly followed by strikes in key clashes with AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina to maintain their successful bid to retain the title.

In the latter of those three clashes, the striker was singled out for praise by Allegri, the coach telling Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) just how important the man in the Juve No. 17 shirt was to his side’s success.

He said:

People maybe don’t realise, quite a few in fact, but Mandzukic is a very technically-gifted player. He rarely gets a pass wrong and gave a fantastic assist to Paul Pogba, as he did to Sami Khedira the other day.

Paulo Dybala catches the eye because he’s quick and agile, but watch Mandzukic timing his runs and choosing his passes.

With the Scudetto secured, however, the striker would again endure a goalless streak, playing out the rest of the season without scoring, and he also failed to make much of an impression at Euro 2016.

Making three appearances for Croatia for a total of 268 minutes, he was unable to help the much-liked side progress beyond the last 16, eliminated 1-0 by winners Portugal at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.

According to statistics provided by WhoScored.com, he averaged 2.7 shots per game yet failed to score a single goal. As can be seen in the Squawka graphic above, Mandzukic missed the target with three of his total of eight shots, seeing two of them blocked and three saved by opposition goalkeepers.

That sustained period of poor shooting form is something he must quickly bring to a close, with Juventus likely to need him firing immediately next term. Yet to replace Morata, the club will be counting on Mandzukic’s blossoming partnership with Dybala, who was another to sing the praises of his team-mate last season.

“We’re getting to understand each other better with every match and I’m starting to learn where he wants the ball and when,” Dybala told Sky Italia after Mandzukic set up his goal in a 2-0 win over Lazio in December (h/t the club’s official website).

“Mario’s physical attributes are crucial,” the young Argentina international continued. “He occupies defenders and drags them out of position for me to attack the spaces that are left behind.”

They clearly worked well together, but when he returns to training at the end of the month, Mandzukic will need to prove he still belongs in the starting XI. Juventus are widely expected to add another striker before the start of the season, with no shortage of potential targets being discussed by the media in Italy.

Calciomercato has linked them with a shock move for Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi, while the agent of Jackson Martinez told the same source that Juve “would be a fantastic option” (h/t Football Italia) as his client looks to leave China.

His 13 goals and five assists were a strong start to life in Turin and may help stave off competition for his place in the team, but there is little doubt that Mandzukic will be Juventus‘ player to watch as their pre-season preparations continue apace.

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UEFA Euro 2016 came to a dramatic end on Sunday, with Portugal clinching a late 1-0 victory over host nation France despite captain and key man Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the game before half-time due to injury.

That surprising triumph drew the summer tournament to an end, with the focus now shifting back to domestic football. Juventus are among many clubs to have already started their pre-season training camp, last week seeing a large group of players report for duty at their Vinovo headquarters.

“Enthusiasm is always important,” coach Massimiliano Allegri told Juve‘s in-house channel JTV—per the club’s official website—before going on to discuss the objectives for the 2016/17 campaign.

Allegri said: 

Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign. And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it. That said, we need to take it steady, work every day and lay the foundations for a great season between now and 31 August, when the campaign gets underway.

Allegri also revealed that the players who had been away on international duty would not return until August 1, “apart from [Mario] Mandzukic, Dani Alves and [Stephan] Lichtsteiner, who will be here from 26 July.”

That early start could prove hugely important to the first of that trio, with the Croatia international seemingly set for an even more prominent role following Alvaro Morata‘s return to Real Madrid.

As discussed in this previous post, the exit of the 23-year-old Spanish star leaves a major void in the Juventus attack, with the club now only having three recognised strikers available for first-team selection.

With Paulo Dybala recording a staggering 22 goals and nine assists in his debut campaign for the Old Lady, it is almost certainly a question of who starts alongside him up front. That role became Mandzukic‘s with increasing regularity last term, something he must ensure continues when action resumes next month.

When he joined Juventus in July 2015, the striker told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) that he chose the Bianconeri “above all because Allegri really wanted me,” before discussing his relationship with the coach in further detail.

“After a little time we started to understand each other better and better, and now we understand each other perfectly,” Mandzukic continued. “He’s a great guy, and that’s an important quality for me. I like to talk with him, and we joke a lot. He’s a great coach too, he knows so much about football. We have a super relationship.”

Watching him play for any period of time makes it easy to understand why Allegri has such an appreciation for the 30-year-old, his play a study in how to harass defenders and score important goals with equal aplomb.

But with Juventus having paid a fee of €19 million, according to the club’s official website, Mandzukic struggled to repay that investment with his performances on the pitch. He broke the deadlock in the club’s 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana triumph over Lazio in late August, before a fine goal against Manchester City in the Champions League showed a great understanding with Paul Pogba.

That game in September was won 2-1 by the Bianconeri, with the Croatian’s goal helping his new side clinch three vital points. By the time Serie A took its traditional winter break, he had already scored six league goals while also netting in the return clash with City at Juventus Stadium.

Yet that deadly touch in the opposition box would desert him after Christmas, Mandzukic failing to hit the target until an early April win over Empoli. That was quickly followed by strikes in key clashes with AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina to maintain their successful bid to retain the title.

In the latter of those three clashes, the striker was singled out for praise by Allegri, the coach telling Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) just how important the man in the Juve No. 17 shirt was to his side’s success.

He said:

People maybe don’t realise, quite a few in fact, but Mandzukic is a very technically-gifted player. He rarely gets a pass wrong and gave a fantastic assist to Paul Pogba, as he did to Sami Khedira the other day.

Paulo Dybala catches the eye because he’s quick and agile, but watch Mandzukic timing his runs and choosing his passes.

With the Scudetto secured, however, the striker would again endure a goalless streak, playing out the rest of the season without scoring, and he also failed to make much of an impression at Euro 2016.

Making three appearances for Croatia for a total of 268 minutes, he was unable to help the much-liked side progress beyond the last 16, eliminated 1-0 by winners Portugal at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.

According to statistics provided by WhoScored.com, he averaged 2.7 shots per game yet failed to score a single goal. As can be seen in the Squawka graphic above, Mandzukic missed the target with three of his total of eight shots, seeing two of them blocked and three saved by opposition goalkeepers.

That sustained period of poor shooting form is something he must quickly bring to a close, with Juventus likely to need him firing immediately next term. Yet to replace Morata, the club will be counting on Mandzukic’s blossoming partnership with Dybala, who was another to sing the praises of his team-mate last season.

“We’re getting to understand each other better with every match and I’m starting to learn where he wants the ball and when,” Dybala told Sky Italia after Mandzukic set up his goal in a 2-0 win over Lazio in December (h/t the club’s official website).

“Mario’s physical attributes are crucial,” the young Argentina international continued. “He occupies defenders and drags them out of position for me to attack the spaces that are left behind.”

They clearly worked well together, but when he returns to training at the end of the month, Mandzukic will need to prove he still belongs in the starting XI. Juventus are widely expected to add another striker before the start of the season, with no shortage of potential targets being discussed by the media in Italy.

Calciomercato has linked them with a shock move for Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi, while the agent of Jackson Martinez told the same source that Juve “would be a fantastic option” (h/t Football Italia) as his client looks to leave China.

His 13 goals and five assists were a strong start to life in Turin and may help stave off competition for his place in the team, but there is little doubt that Mandzukic will be Juventus‘ player to watch as their pre-season preparations continue apace.

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UEFA Euro 2016 came to a dramatic end on Sunday, with Portugal clinching a late 1-0 victory over host nation France despite captain and key man Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the game before half-time due to injury.

That surprising triumph drew the summer tournament to an end, with the focus now shifting back to domestic football. Juventus are among many clubs to have already started their pre-season training camp, last week seeing a large group of players report for duty at their Vinovo headquarters.

“Enthusiasm is always important,” coach Massimiliano Allegri told Juve‘s in-house channel JTV—per the club’s official website—before going on to discuss the objectives for the 2016/17 campaign.

Allegri said: 

Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign. And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it. That said, we need to take it steady, work every day and lay the foundations for a great season between now and 31 August, when the campaign gets underway.

Allegri also revealed that the players who had been away on international duty would not return until August 1, “apart from [Mario] Mandzukic, Dani Alves and [Stephan] Lichtsteiner, who will be here from 26 July.”

That early start could prove hugely important to the first of that trio, with the Croatia international seemingly set for an even more prominent role following Alvaro Morata‘s return to Real Madrid.

As discussed in this previous post, the exit of the 23-year-old Spanish star leaves a major void in the Juventus attack, with the club now only having three recognised strikers available for first-team selection.

With Paulo Dybala recording a staggering 22 goals and nine assists in his debut campaign for the Old Lady, it is almost certainly a question of who starts alongside him up front. That role became Mandzukic‘s with increasing regularity last term, something he must ensure continues when action resumes next month.

When he joined Juventus in July 2015, the striker told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) that he chose the Bianconeri “above all because Allegri really wanted me,” before discussing his relationship with the coach in further detail.

“After a little time we started to understand each other better and better, and now we understand each other perfectly,” Mandzukic continued. “He’s a great guy, and that’s an important quality for me. I like to talk with him, and we joke a lot. He’s a great coach too, he knows so much about football. We have a super relationship.”

Watching him play for any period of time makes it easy to understand why Allegri has such an appreciation for the 30-year-old, his play a study in how to harass defenders and score important goals with equal aplomb.

But with Juventus having paid a fee of €19 million, according to the club’s official website, Mandzukic struggled to repay that investment with his performances on the pitch. He broke the deadlock in the club’s 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana triumph over Lazio in late August, before a fine goal against Manchester City in the Champions League showed a great understanding with Paul Pogba.

That game in September was won 2-1 by the Bianconeri, with the Croatian’s goal helping his new side clinch three vital points. By the time Serie A took its traditional winter break, he had already scored six league goals while also netting in the return clash with City at Juventus Stadium.

Yet that deadly touch in the opposition box would desert him after Christmas, Mandzukic failing to hit the target until an early April win over Empoli. That was quickly followed by strikes in key clashes with AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina to maintain their successful bid to retain the title.

In the latter of those three clashes, the striker was singled out for praise by Allegri, the coach telling Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) just how important the man in the Juve No. 17 shirt was to his side’s success.

He said:

People maybe don’t realise, quite a few in fact, but Mandzukic is a very technically-gifted player. He rarely gets a pass wrong and gave a fantastic assist to Paul Pogba, as he did to Sami Khedira the other day.

Paulo Dybala catches the eye because he’s quick and agile, but watch Mandzukic timing his runs and choosing his passes.

With the Scudetto secured, however, the striker would again endure a goalless streak, playing out the rest of the season without scoring, and he also failed to make much of an impression at Euro 2016.

Making three appearances for Croatia for a total of 268 minutes, he was unable to help the much-liked side progress beyond the last 16, eliminated 1-0 by winners Portugal at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.

According to statistics provided by WhoScored.com, he averaged 2.7 shots per game yet failed to score a single goal. As can be seen in the Squawka graphic above, Mandzukic missed the target with three of his total of eight shots, seeing two of them blocked and three saved by opposition goalkeepers.

That sustained period of poor shooting form is something he must quickly bring to a close, with Juventus likely to need him firing immediately next term. Yet to replace Morata, the club will be counting on Mandzukic’s blossoming partnership with Dybala, who was another to sing the praises of his team-mate last season.

“We’re getting to understand each other better with every match and I’m starting to learn where he wants the ball and when,” Dybala told Sky Italia after Mandzukic set up his goal in a 2-0 win over Lazio in December (h/t the club’s official website).

“Mario’s physical attributes are crucial,” the young Argentina international continued. “He occupies defenders and drags them out of position for me to attack the spaces that are left behind.”

They clearly worked well together, but when he returns to training at the end of the month, Mandzukic will need to prove he still belongs in the starting XI. Juventus are widely expected to add another striker before the start of the season, with no shortage of potential targets being discussed by the media in Italy.

Calciomercato has linked them with a shock move for Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi, while the agent of Jackson Martinez told the same source that Juve “would be a fantastic option” (h/t Football Italia) as his client looks to leave China.

His 13 goals and five assists were a strong start to life in Turin and may help stave off competition for his place in the team, but there is little doubt that Mandzukic will be Juventus‘ player to watch as their pre-season preparations continue apace.

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Arsenal‘s chances of signing Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi have been dealt a blow after a move for the forward was dubbed “unlikely.” Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Arda Turan could be available following reports the Spaniards transfer-listed their winger.

According to Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard, the Gunners are instead prioritising their interest in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata or Lyon frontman Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal have been linked with a lengthy list of forwards since failing to sign any senior outfield players last summer, and Inter’s Icardi has long been associated with a San Siro exit.

Speaking to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Icardi‘s wife, Wanda Nara, hinted the 23-year-old could depart the Serie A giants this summer, per Bhardwaj‘s report:

From what I can see, Inter have put Icardi up for sale. There are many clubs interested. We will evaluate the situation with all due respect for everyone.

Mauro would be very sad to leave Inter, but we’ve understood the club’s economic situation and evidently they cannot hold Icardi back.

There is no release clause in his contract and we hope Inter won’t ask for a sum that is outside the market value, but rather suited to his contract.

The Argentina international has three years remaining on his current deal with Inter, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is facing the prospect of being without injured striker Danny Welbeck for the start of next season.

WhoScored.com managing director Cristiano Acconci recently highlighted the best and worst sides of Icardi, who has scored 57 goals in 122 Serie A appearances for Inter and former club Sampdoria:

Elsewhere, the Premier League giants have been linked with a move for Barca misfit Turan, who is reportedly on the club’s departure list just six months after making his first appearance for the club.

Spanish newspaper Marca reported the Blaugrana are even willing to accept a £12 million hit and sell their playmaker for just £23 million this summer (h/t Sun‘s Matt Heath-Smith).

Turan moved to the Camp Nou from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £35 million last summer, but the Turkey international wasn’t allowed to register as a player until January 2016 as a result of Barcelona’s transfer ban.

Borussia Dortmund are also mentioned by Heath-Smith as one of the teams interested in a move, and Bayern Munich media’s Cristian Nyari insisted a move to Signal Iduna Park would be good for the player:

Arsenal already have a host of star playmakers among their ranks in Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, with Turan possibly following the same path as the latter and heading to the Emirates Stadium.

The £30 million arrival of Granit Xhaka has already beefed up the Gunners’ engine room, but Turan‘s acquisition could go a long way to injecting some more flair into Wenger‘s lineup.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29rb5U0
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Arsenal‘s chances of signing Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi have been dealt a blow after a move for the forward was dubbed “unlikely.” Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Arda Turan could be available following reports the Spaniards transfer-listed their winger.

According to Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard, the Gunners are instead prioritising their interest in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata or Lyon frontman Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal have been linked with a lengthy list of forwards since failing to sign any senior outfield players last summer, and Inter’s Icardi has long been associated with a San Siro exit.

Speaking to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Icardi‘s wife, Wanda Nara, hinted the 23-year-old could depart the Serie A giants this summer, per Bhardwaj‘s report:

From what I can see, Inter have put Icardi up for sale. There are many clubs interested. We will evaluate the situation with all due respect for everyone.

Mauro would be very sad to leave Inter, but we’ve understood the club’s economic situation and evidently they cannot hold Icardi back.

There is no release clause in his contract and we hope Inter won’t ask for a sum that is outside the market value, but rather suited to his contract.

The Argentina international has three years remaining on his current deal with Inter, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is facing the prospect of being without injured striker Danny Welbeck for the start of next season.

WhoScored.com managing director Cristiano Acconci recently highlighted the best and worst sides of Icardi, who has scored 57 goals in 122 Serie A appearances for Inter and former club Sampdoria:

Elsewhere, the Premier League giants have been linked with a move for Barca misfit Turan, who is reportedly on the club’s departure list just six months after making his first appearance for the club.

Spanish newspaper Marca reported the Blaugrana are even willing to accept a £12 million hit and sell their playmaker for just £23 million this summer (h/t Sun‘s Matt Heath-Smith).

Turan moved to the Camp Nou from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £35 million last summer, but the Turkey international wasn’t allowed to register as a player until January 2016 as a result of Barcelona’s transfer ban.

Borussia Dortmund are also mentioned by Heath-Smith as one of the teams interested in a move, and Bayern Munich media’s Cristian Nyari insisted a move to Signal Iduna Park would be good for the player:

Arsenal already have a host of star playmakers among their ranks in Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, with Turan possibly following the same path as the latter and heading to the Emirates Stadium.

The £30 million arrival of Granit Xhaka has already beefed up the Gunners’ engine room, but Turan‘s acquisition could go a long way to injecting some more flair into Wenger‘s lineup.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29rb5U0
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Arsenal‘s chances of signing Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi have been dealt a blow after a move for the forward was dubbed “unlikely.” Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Arda Turan could be available following reports the Spaniards transfer-listed their winger.

According to Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard, the Gunners are instead prioritising their interest in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata or Lyon frontman Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal have been linked with a lengthy list of forwards since failing to sign any senior outfield players last summer, and Inter’s Icardi has long been associated with a San Siro exit.

Speaking to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Icardi‘s wife, Wanda Nara, hinted the 23-year-old could depart the Serie A giants this summer, per Bhardwaj‘s report:

From what I can see, Inter have put Icardi up for sale. There are many clubs interested. We will evaluate the situation with all due respect for everyone.

Mauro would be very sad to leave Inter, but we’ve understood the club’s economic situation and evidently they cannot hold Icardi back.

There is no release clause in his contract and we hope Inter won’t ask for a sum that is outside the market value, but rather suited to his contract.

The Argentina international has three years remaining on his current deal with Inter, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is facing the prospect of being without injured striker Danny Welbeck for the start of next season.

WhoScored.com managing director Cristiano Acconci recently highlighted the best and worst sides of Icardi, who has scored 57 goals in 122 Serie A appearances for Inter and former club Sampdoria:

Elsewhere, the Premier League giants have been linked with a move for Barca misfit Turan, who is reportedly on the club’s departure list just six months after making his first appearance for the club.

Spanish newspaper Marca reported the Blaugrana are even willing to accept a £12 million hit and sell their playmaker for just £23 million this summer (h/t Sun‘s Matt Heath-Smith).

Turan moved to the Camp Nou from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £35 million last summer, but the Turkey international wasn’t allowed to register as a player until January 2016 as a result of Barcelona’s transfer ban.

Borussia Dortmund are also mentioned by Heath-Smith as one of the teams interested in a move, and Bayern Munich media’s Cristian Nyari insisted a move to Signal Iduna Park would be good for the player:

Arsenal already have a host of star playmakers among their ranks in Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, with Turan possibly following the same path as the latter and heading to the Emirates Stadium.

The £30 million arrival of Granit Xhaka has already beefed up the Gunners’ engine room, but Turan‘s acquisition could go a long way to injecting some more flair into Wenger‘s lineup.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29rb5U0
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Arsenal‘s chances of signing Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi have been dealt a blow after a move for the forward was dubbed “unlikely.” Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Arda Turan could be available following reports the Spaniards transfer-listed their winger.

According to Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard, the Gunners are instead prioritising their interest in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata or Lyon frontman Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal have been linked with a lengthy list of forwards since failing to sign any senior outfield players last summer, and Inter’s Icardi has long been associated with a San Siro exit.

Speaking to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Icardi‘s wife, Wanda Nara, hinted the 23-year-old could depart the Serie A giants this summer, per Bhardwaj‘s report:

From what I can see, Inter have put Icardi up for sale. There are many clubs interested. We will evaluate the situation with all due respect for everyone.

Mauro would be very sad to leave Inter, but we’ve understood the club’s economic situation and evidently they cannot hold Icardi back.

There is no release clause in his contract and we hope Inter won’t ask for a sum that is outside the market value, but rather suited to his contract.

The Argentina international has three years remaining on his current deal with Inter, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is facing the prospect of being without injured striker Danny Welbeck for the start of next season.

WhoScored.com managing director Cristiano Acconci recently highlighted the best and worst sides of Icardi, who has scored 57 goals in 122 Serie A appearances for Inter and former club Sampdoria:

Elsewhere, the Premier League giants have been linked with a move for Barca misfit Turan, who is reportedly on the club’s departure list just six months after making his first appearance for the club.

Spanish newspaper Marca reported the Blaugrana are even willing to accept a £12 million hit and sell their playmaker for just £23 million this summer (h/t Sun‘s Matt Heath-Smith).

Turan moved to the Camp Nou from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £35 million last summer, but the Turkey international wasn’t allowed to register as a player until January 2016 as a result of Barcelona’s transfer ban.

Borussia Dortmund are also mentioned by Heath-Smith as one of the teams interested in a move, and Bayern Munich media’s Cristian Nyari insisted a move to Signal Iduna Park would be good for the player:

Arsenal already have a host of star playmakers among their ranks in Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, with Turan possibly following the same path as the latter and heading to the Emirates Stadium.

The £30 million arrival of Granit Xhaka has already beefed up the Gunners’ engine room, but Turan‘s acquisition could go a long way to injecting some more flair into Wenger‘s lineup.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29rb5U0
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Arsenal‘s chances of signing Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi have been dealt a blow after a move for the forward was dubbed “unlikely.” Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Arda Turan could be available following reports the Spaniards transfer-listed their winger.

According to Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard, the Gunners are instead prioritising their interest in Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata or Lyon frontman Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal have been linked with a lengthy list of forwards since failing to sign any senior outfield players last summer, and Inter’s Icardi has long been associated with a San Siro exit.

Speaking to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Icardi‘s wife, Wanda Nara, hinted the 23-year-old could depart the Serie A giants this summer, per Bhardwaj‘s report:

From what I can see, Inter have put Icardi up for sale. There are many clubs interested. We will evaluate the situation with all due respect for everyone.

Mauro would be very sad to leave Inter, but we’ve understood the club’s economic situation and evidently they cannot hold Icardi back.

There is no release clause in his contract and we hope Inter won’t ask for a sum that is outside the market value, but rather suited to his contract.

The Argentina international has three years remaining on his current deal with Inter, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is facing the prospect of being without injured striker Danny Welbeck for the start of next season.

WhoScored.com managing director Cristiano Acconci recently highlighted the best and worst sides of Icardi, who has scored 57 goals in 122 Serie A appearances for Inter and former club Sampdoria:

Elsewhere, the Premier League giants have been linked with a move for Barca misfit Turan, who is reportedly on the club’s departure list just six months after making his first appearance for the club.

Spanish newspaper Marca reported the Blaugrana are even willing to accept a £12 million hit and sell their playmaker for just £23 million this summer (h/t Sun‘s Matt Heath-Smith).

Turan moved to the Camp Nou from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £35 million last summer, but the Turkey international wasn’t allowed to register as a player until January 2016 as a result of Barcelona’s transfer ban.

Borussia Dortmund are also mentioned by Heath-Smith as one of the teams interested in a move, and Bayern Munich media’s Cristian Nyari insisted a move to Signal Iduna Park would be good for the player:

Arsenal already have a host of star playmakers among their ranks in Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, with Turan possibly following the same path as the latter and heading to the Emirates Stadium.

The £30 million arrival of Granit Xhaka has already beefed up the Gunners’ engine room, but Turan‘s acquisition could go a long way to injecting some more flair into Wenger‘s lineup.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/29rb5U0
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J