Antonio Conte looks set to be one of the busiest football managers in Europe this summer.
While the Italian prepares to lead his country to Euro 2016 over the next month, he also appears to be moulding a new-look Chelsea squad ahead of next season.
Conte, Jose Mourinho's permanent successor as manager at Stamford Bridge, has been linked with players from Serie A, including AS Roma center backs Antonio Rudiger and Kostas Manolas, and midfielder Radja Nainggolan.
Chelsea is also believed to be in negotiations with Juventus over right back Stephan Lichtsteiner, with Branislav Ivanovic, the Serbian who currently holds the position, now aged 32.
Further upfield, Conte is preparing for the possible departure of the club's top scorer for the past two seasons, Diego Costa.
With Costa's future in west London uncertain, Conte is believed to have Everton's Romelu Lukaku at the top of his wanted list.
Lukaku, who joined Everton from Chelsea for around £28 million ($40 million) in 2014, could be on his way back to Stamford Bridge but the £65 million ($94 million) price tag slapped on him may prove to be a stumbling block.
Instead, Chelsea may turn to Lukaku's fellow Belgian striker Christian Benteke, according to The Times.
Benteke only moved to Liverpool from Aston Villa last summer, but the 25-year-old doesn't appear to be in Jurgen Klopp's plans at Anfield and could be shipped out.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
