Chelsea offer star as part of deal to land Bonucci – report

Rob McCarthy

Chelsea will reportedly offer £48m plus midfielder Nemanja Matic to sign long-term target Leonardo Bonucci this summer.

Antonio Conte, who coached Bonucci during his time as Juve boss, is desperate to bring the 30-year-old to Stamford Bridge and slot him alongside David Luiz and Gary Cahill in what would be an almost impregnable back three next season.

Indeed, Bonucci’s time at Juventus looks set to be coming to an end following the latest of a reported long succession or rows with his current manager Massimiliano Allegri.

Allegri has agreed a contract extension at Juve until 2019 and is said to have demanded that Bonucci be sold this summer.

That news will certainly give Conte a boost, and the fact that Allegri is also a known admirer of Matic means that a deal between the two clubs could certainly be on the cards.

The Serie A giants wanted £60m for Bonucci, after Chelsea first revealed their interest in the player, so would surely accept an offer of £48m plus a player Allegri is a fan off – if the ‘exclusive’ report in The Sun is to be believed.

The loss of Matic would not come as too huge a blow to the Blues, with Conte already said to be lining up Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko as his replacement.

Bakayoko, 22, was outstanding for the French champions last season and would be an excellent addition to the squad of the reigning Premier League champions.