Chelsea are reportedly keen on signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, whose agent has opened the door for an exit in the summer.
The 24-year-old has been tipped for big things since an early age, with comparisons being made between him and Andrea Pirlo given their similar style of play.
Having built on his early promise at Pescara by being an important part of PSG’s success in recent years with four Ligue 1 titles and countless domestic cups to his name, The Mirror claim that a move to the Premier League could now happen next summer.
Antonio Conte is said to be ready to provide competition to Manchester United who have also been linked with a move for the Italian midfield maestro, with the Chelsea boss still keen to bolster his squad despite their recent impressive form.
Chelsea have won five consecutive Premier League games without conceding a goal which in turn has unsurprisingly pushed them back up into the mix at the top of the table.
However, with Jon Obi Mikel set to see his contract expire at the end of the season, and with doubts over Cesc Fabregas’ future at Stamford Bridge given his lack of playing time so far this year, the midfield could be set for a revamp.
That in turn has seemingly led to talk of a move for Verratti, with The Mirror adding that although he signed a new five-year deal with the French giants in August, his agent, Donato Di Campli, has suggested that unless the club win something important this season, they could consider their options.
With the right players around him in midfield, Verratti would be a welcome arrival for any club as his vision, passing ability and all-round quality to control a game make him one of the stand-out stars in Europe.