Chelsea are reportedly being linked with a move for Italian center-back Andrea Ranocchia, who has fallen out of favour at Inter following the arrival of new Nerazzurri boss Stefano Pioli, Calcio Mercato reports.
The 28-year-old defender’s situation at the club has already attracted a lot of interest among a host of Premier League teams, with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea big admirers of the player.
Conte knows Ranocchia very well from his Italy days, as the Italian tactician helped him to his breakthrough season over nine years ago while in charge of Bari.
According to reports, the defender would be very keen to return to his former manager, as his career has slightly stalled since his move to Inter in 2011. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Sampdoria, and is currently struggling to get any attention from Pioli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Ranocchia’s agent has flown to London in order to confirm a deal for his client with major interest from Hull City and West Ham already on the table. However, should league leaders Chelsea turn their attention on the Italian international, a deal could be pulled through as early as next week.
