Antonio Conte is determined to bring in some star attackers to his club and has turned his eyes towards Fiorentina star Federico Bernardeschi. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Bernardeschi has been offered £4.2m-per-season after tax to move to Stamford Bridge. It will be a significant improvement on his current deal but who is Bernardeschi and what will he add to the squad at the Bridge?
Born and brought up in Tuscany, Italy, the 23-year old started his youth career in his hometown but moved to Fiorentina as a teenager in 2003. He spent ten long seasons at the club’s academy before moving into the senior squad in 2013. He also spent a season on loan at Crotone and has only risen into the limelight with his performances in the previous season and this.
He has represented his country in almost every domestic level and has seven senior appearances to his name already. He has been in terrific form this season, scoring 10 goals and picking up a further four assist in his time in the Serie A.
His contract with the Italian club runs down in 2019 and he could be up for sale this summer and Chelsea are one of the many European clubs who are ready to snatch him away this summer.
Capable of playing in a variety of positions in the midfield, Bernardeschi has been at his most effective at the left-wing position. His key passes ratio is right up there with the best in Europe while his dribbling skills is what has made him successful this season. He was always an excellent passer of the ball with some exemplary vision but Bernardeschi has added another attribute to his attack recently.
While happy to play short passes to get beyond defences, the 23-year old has also learnt to take on his man and create chances from crosses. He will grow into this new role and Antonio Conte wants him to do so at the Stamford Bridge. Having already managed him in their time with the Italian national side, Conte knows a lot about the player and that fact that he is ready to break the bank and offer him insane wages, tells that the manager rates him highly.
The likes of Pedro and Willian have played in this position this season and adding more competition will only make it tougher for Conte to select his starting lineups. But with four competitions to juggle with, Chelsea need all the depth they can find and Bernardeschi will help in either way.
He can walk into the first team when needed and can also act as a backup, helping Chelsea in domestic competitions regularly. At just 23, he has great potential and a move to the Bridge this summer might represent the first step of many towards stardom for the Italian attacker.
