Antonio Conte became one of the very few managers to have lifted the Premier Leauge trophy in his first season in England. The manager will be happy with the progress his side has made in recent times but he is also looking to add some quality players to try and replicate the success next season. This has seen him linked with some superstars and one player who is now on the radar is Italian midfielder Marco Verratti.
The PSG star has been in impeccable form in Ligue 1 this season and is easily one of the best players in his position in Europe at the moment. He has three goals and eight assists in 42 appearances in all competitions this season and is attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs including the like of Barcelona for a move this summer.
Antonio Conte is one of the many managers who want him in their squad next season. Also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, Verratti is a hard-tackling central midfielder who sticks to the traditional way. He has enough skills in his armoury to compete with the best of the current era but his style of play is a throwback to a couple of decades before when midfielders were the heartbeat of a side.
Verratti loves to dominate play in the midfield and never allows his opponents to settle down on the ball. He is not afraid to put himself on the line and is ready to do the dirty work when needed. He can dribble past opponents with ease and has an exemplary vision, which allows him to set up his team on goal from a deeper position.
At just 24, he is easily one of the best in the business and adding him to their squad can make Chelsea almost unbeatable. They already have a midfield engine in N Golo Kante, the PFA player of the year for this season, in their ranks in the middle of the park and adding Verratti to this lineup can make things spicy.
While Kante and his industry will keep the opponents honest, Verratti can join in and help Chelsea create chances from the back, making them a more potent team and also a more balanced one.
Nemanja Matic may yet stay at the club and give Chelsea the necessary backup while Spanish playmaker Cesc Fabregas might be allowed to go if Chelsea do spend on Verratti this summer. However, they will have to fend off interests from some of the biggest European clubs and will find it hard to lure him to the Bridge at the end of the season.
