Man City and Chelsea are reportedly set to face off in a transfer battle for Juventus and Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci, who is valued at £50m.
The 29-year-old was linked with a move to the Premier League this past summer, but ultimately he opted to remain in Serie A with the Bianconeri.
However, according to The Daily Star, he’ll have another big decision to make next year, as both City and Chelsea are ready to reignite their interest and try and prise him away from Juve again.
It’s claimed that City have decided that they will pursue him as Vincent Kompany continues to struggle with injury setbacks, with the Belgian again picking up a problem in midweek.
Meanwhile, despite signing both David Luiz and Marcos Alonso on deadline day, Antonio Conte is seemingly still unhappy with his defensive options with Chelsea keeping just one clean sheet all season thus far.
While the reasons for wanting Bonucci are clear, actually signing him is a different story altogether as both clubs are likely to face the same difficulties in terms of convincing Juve to sell and to persuade the Italian international to start a new challenge.
There’s no denying that Bonucci would make a significant difference for either side, but ultimately he’s firmly established himself at Juve as they go in search of a sixth consecutive Scudetto this season, while also harbouring hopes of competing in the Champions League.
Having already snubbed a move to England this summer, it’s difficult to see what would change the defender’s mind any time soon as he is clearly settled in Turin.
In turn, it could lead to further disappointment for both Chelsea and City, although putting a £50m bid in for a player who turns 30 next May could force Juve to consider their position which in turn may open the door for Bonucci to explore new possibilities.