Chelsea boss Antonio Conte plots double swoop for Italy stars Antonio Candreva and Leonardo Bonucci
Incoming Chelsea boss wants the Euro 2016 aces to be part of his Stamford Bridge revolution
ANTONIO CONTE is plotting an amazing £57million double swoop for Italy stars Antonio Candreva and Leonardo Bonucci.
SunSport understands the incoming Chelsea boss wants the Euro 2016 aces to be part of his Stamford Bridge revolution, starting this summer.
Winger Candreva, 29, has reportedly told Lazio he wants to join Inter but Chelsea hope Conte will be able to beat Roberto Mancini to his signature for around £25m.
And a three-year deal for defender Bonucci, worth around £130,000 a week, has been accepted by the player and his agents.
The Blues will now make an improved offer to Juventus totalling £32m which they hope will seal the transfer.
Bonucci, 29, has been in outstanding form for Italy in France and Chelsea want him to anchor Conte’s three-man defence at Stamford Bridge alongside Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma. The Blues are prepared to pay Juve £25m up front with another £7m in add-ons to beat off interest from Manchester United and their former boss Jose Mourinho.
Candreva has 40 caps and four goals for Italy but suffered a hamstring injury in the Azzuri’s 1-0 win over Sweden on Friday.
He has heaps of experience and can play either as a winger or in midfield.
Conte rates him very highly and has made Candreva a regular starter during his two-year reign as Italy boss.
Brazilian flop Alexandre Pato looks to be heading out of west London with Fenerbahce lining up a move.
The striker, 26, arrived on loan from Corinthians in January but made just two Premier League appearances for Chelsea.
It is highly unlikely Pato’s loan move will be made permanent — but Fenerbahce feel he can rekindle his form in Turkey.