Chelsea could soon benefit from the increasingly uncertain future of Leonardo Bonucci at Juventus, with fresh rumours of a possible summer bid that could see the Italian international centre-back reunited with Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.
Bonucci was reportedly a target for both Chelsea and Manchester City last summer after an impressive Euro 2016. Chelsea ultimately secured a late deal for David Luiz after it became clear Juve would not sell, but the Premier League leaders remain in the market.
The situation at Juventus appears to have changed since last year. The 29-year-old has endured a public fall out with boss Massimiliano Allegri, while his age could lead the club to consider offers.
A claim by The Sun suggests that the reigning Serie A champions are looking to the future and are hoping to put faith in a long-term defensive partnership between Mattia Caldara, currently enjoying an excellentloan spell with Atalanta, and Daniele Rugani.
The long-serving Giorgio Chiellini also remains in Turinand seems much less expendable than Bonucci. Selling the 32-year-old vice-captain also wouldn't likely yield anything like the same value as moving Bonucci on.
The speculation has it that Chelsea stand a good chance of landing Bonucci if they are willing to pay £42m. Such a fee would be a huge new club record for a defender and the second most Chelsea have paid for any player after £50m striker Fernando Torres in 2011.
John Terry is set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, while there are also doubts on the long-term future of Kurt Zouma. The young Frenchman was seen as a hot prospect prior to suffering a serious knee injury, but chances have been minimal since his return to fitness.
Conte has hardly wavered from a centre-back combination Gary Cahill, the aforementioned Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta since adopting his favoured 3-4-3 system in October after what had been a difficult start to the season.
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