Chelsea Eyeing £12m Swoop For Italian Star But Face Competition From Everton

The opening of the summer transfer window is now open so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea are linked with Graziano Pelle….

Chelsea are weighing-up a £12m move for Southampton striker Graziano Pelle if they fail in their attempts to sign number one target Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, according to the Daily Mail.

New boss Antonio Conte is expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation next season and the Blues need to strengthen their attacking options after Radamel Falcao and Alexandre Pato left the club following their failed loan spells.

Chelsea have already splashed out £33m to sign Michy Batshuayi from Marseille but Conte needs to bring in one more top class striker and the Daily Mail claim Morata is his prime target with talks with the players agent due to take place this week.

The 23-year-old has rejoined Real Madrid after they activated a buyback clause but it remains to be seen what Zinadine Zidane’s plans are for the Spanish international and even if they decide to cash-in to turn a quick profit, Chelsea aren’t the only club in the running.

Therefore, Conte may be forced to target an alternative option and the newspaper suggests that the 46-year-old is eyeing a £12m swoop on Southampton for Pelle with Chelsea ready to offer him a tempting contract to make the move to Stamford Bridge.

Pelle has just one year remaining on his deal at St Mary’s so they should be able to get a transfer agreed with the south coast club and Conte obviously knows the striker well from their time together with the Italian national team, with the 30-year-old leading the line for the Azzurri at Euro 2016 this summer before their exit to Germany on Saturday.

However, Chelsea are set to face competition for Pelle’s services as the Daily Mail are reporting that Everton are also showing a keen interest with new boss Ronald Koeman identifying the Italian as a prime target as he looks to rebuild the Toffees squad this summer.

Koeman was the man to sign Pelle for Southampton in 2014 and it seems he’s now eyeing a reunion with the striker at Goodison Park, which could spell bad news for Chelsea.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news

It’s going to be interesting to see whether Pelle pushes ahead with a move to Everton or holds out to see if Chelsea step-up their interest should they miss out on Morata, but at around £12m the Italian hitman would be a solid signing for any club this summer.