Antonio Conte is looking to a market he knows well as he prepares to rebuild the Chelsea squad this summer.
The Italy head coach will take over at Stamford Bridge in the summer after leading his country into battle at the European Championships in France.
Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich realises investment is needed to restore the club to the summit of English football and will bankroll a spending spree.
Incoming boss Conte is already planning for life in west London and is drawing up a list of targets for the Blues to bid for when the transfer window re-opens.
He is keen to focus on the Italian market and sent scouts to yesterday’s Serie A match between Genoa and Roberto Mancini’s Inter to take a look at players.
Inter pair Ivan Perisic and Jeison Murillo were the main focus of the trip, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Chelsea are set to wave goodbye to captain John Terry at the end of the current campaign and central defender Murillo is being considered as a replacement.
Croatian winger Perisic is an attacking option Conte would like to add to the ranks at the Bridge and is approach the prime of his career at the age of 27.
Atletico Madrid ace Antoine Griezmann has long been linked a move to Chelsea and the rumour mill was whirring back into overdrive on Thursday.
Widespread reports suggest Conte is keen to make the Frenchman a marquee signing, although it would require a massive fee to persuade Madrid to sell their key player.
Chelsea return to action this weekend at Bournemouth as they look to bounce back from consecutive Premier League defeats to Swansea and Manchester City.
Read More: Eight big-money transfer deals that could go through this summer.
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