Chelsea Hope To Fend Off Man Utd Interest With £57m Swoop For Italian Duo

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Antonio Conte is eyeing a double swoop for two Italians….

Chelsea are hoping to fend off interest from the likes of Manchester United to secure a £57m double swoop for Italian duo Leonardo Bonucci and Antonio Candreva, according to the Sun.

Incoming boss Antonio Conte isn’t due to officially take over at Stamford Bridge until he’s fulfilled his duties at Euro 2016 but it looks as though the Italy coach has already set-out his transfer plans and is eyeing moves for two of his compatriots.

Bonucci has been one of the stars of the European championships so far with his superb displays at the back guiding the Italians to consecutive clean sheets and his impressive form has led to speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League.

The Daily Star reported over the weekend that Manchester United were ready to launch a £25m bid for the Juventus centre-back as Jose Mourinho looks to bring in an established defender to play alongside Chris Smalling next season.

However, it looks as though Chelsea are ready to trump their rivals as the Sun claim that the Blues are set to offer Juve a deal worth £32m to secure the 29-year-old’s signature, with the deal seeing Chelsea pay £25m up front with a further £7m in additional add ons.

We’ll have to wait and see whether Juve will be prepared to accept such an offer but the newspaper says that a three-year deal worth £130,000-a-week has already been accepted by Bonucci’s agent on behalf of the player so all that remains is for the two clubs to agree a fee and Chelsea could pull off this major coup.

Should they be successful in luring Bonucci to Stamford Bridge, it’s thought that Conte plans to play him at the heart of his defence alongside Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma in a new-look back three next season.

And it could be a sensational double swoop on Serie A as the Sun also claim that Chelsea are ready to test Lazio’s resolve with a £25m offer for winger Antonio Candreva.

The 29-year-old has started both games under Conte at Euro 2016 and it looks as though the Italian boss is now hoping to take him to West London as he looks to revamp his attacking options this summer.

Candreva is capable of playing through the middle but he’s more at home out on the right wing so he’d provide competition to the likes of Willian and Pedro next season if he does end up joining the Blues.

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Only time will tell whether the deposed Premier League champions will be successful with their double swoop but it appears Conte is gearing up for a busy summer and it’s no surprise that he’s planning his overhaul around Italian international’s and Candreva and Bonucci would both be excellent signings.