Blues are now prepared to offload their Brazil central defender next month.
Premier League giants Chelsea are hoping to do a swap deal with Serie A counterparts Inter Milan involving defenders David Luiz and Andrea Ranocchia when the winter transfer window finally opens again for business in the new year, according to reports in the Daily Express.
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The west London club have been keeping close tabs on the highly rated Italy international for some time now, although the Blues are not the only Premier League side believed to currently be interested in Ranocchia, with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and champions Manchester United all also said to be keen on signing the 25-year-old at the turn of the year.
However, the big advantage that the Uefa Europa League holders have at present over their Premier League rivals is that Inter are said to desperate to lure Chelsea’s Brazil international to San Siro next month, and so the Blues may be able to agree a swap deal involving both centre backs.
Ranocchia has a contract with Inter that now only runs until June 30 2015 and with the Italian having so far steadfastly refused to put pen to paper on a new deal with the club, it is understood that the Serie A giants are also keen to offload the player in January.
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