According to latest reports, Chelsea are chasing Serie A winger Antonio Candreva and are aiming to make him one of the first additions to the squad, when the transfer window opens in the summer. The Inter Milan man has been quite impressive from the wings and has caught many club’s eyes including Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
While Chelsea have had absolutely no problems scoring goals this season so far, they will surely have injuries and tiredness creeping by midseason next year, when the team will be competing for the European title as well. And Conte won’t be having the services of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian week in and week out with the same intensity.
Conte has previously managed the Italian national team before taking over the reins at Stamford Bridge and happens to share a good equation with Candreva, which will be a quintessential factor in tempting the 30-year-old to London.
As per reports, the Blues are willing to shell out £26million move for the Italian dazzler and we think that fee would need a little negotiation before a deal gets finalised. This, however, is not the first time that Chelsea have stepped up their attempt to get his signature. They tried buying him last summer but their poor finish to the league the previous season had prompted the then Lazio player to join Inter Milan instead.
Candreva has been quite a regular for Inter this season playing 27 times in the domestic league so far, where he has scored four goals and provided six assists. In their Europa League campaign, too, he has managed to bag one goal. His impressive displays have subjected him to speculations already with numerous clubs keeping tabs on him. Chelsea are, however, believed to be leading the chase.
A product of Lodigiani Youth, Candreva moved to Ternana Calcio in 2003 and made his way up through their ranks before Udinese decided to go for him in 2007. Numerous loan stints later with clubs like AS Livorno, Juventus FC, Parma Calcio 1913, AC Cesena and SS Lazio, he made Lazio his home four years back. And after three successful seasons with the club where he scored 45 goals and assisted 45 times in 192 games, it was time Inter recognised his mettle.
Though his contract with the Italian giants runs till 2020, the club is anticipating a huge overhaul next season with their Suning Group owners content to provide good funds for big arrivals, which could actually pave his way out of Inter to Chelsea.
