Antonio Conte’s debut season in the Premier League is going better than planned as they are currently the favourites to the lift the title come May.
The Italian manager made some smart buys in the summer transfer window before the season with the likes of David Luiz, N Golo Kante and Marcos Alonso, all cementing a place in the first XI this season.
The manager will be relatively pleased with the way his team has performed this season but with European football beckoning next season, he will know that his squad will need further additions to compete with the best in Europe.
This has seen him already look for potential stars and has been linked with some of the biggest names in the sport in recent times.
And reports from Metro today claim that Conte is now a step closer to landing Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic at the end of the season.
The Croatian midfielder is an integral part of the squad at the San Siro and has been in sparkling form this season. He has 7 goals and 2 assists in 23 Serie A appearances this season and has caught the eye of the manager at the Stamford Bridge.
Conte is set to let the likes of Cesc Fabregas leave the club in the summer and is looking to add some mettle to his midfield.
He has been looking at the likes of Verratti recently but is now determined to land Persic in the summer.
The 28-year old could cost up to £34m in the summer but Conte has already made up his mind and is looking at him closely ahead of a move at the end of the season.
It is reported that the Italian sent scouts to watch Inter Milan take on AS Roma in a crunch tie recently and is said to be impressed with the midfielder’s performance on the night.
Perisic was linked to Chelsea in the January transfer window but Inter Milan were adamant that he was not up for sale.
However, with the 28-year old looking for a different challenge, he might be tempted to move to the Bridge, and compete for the league title elsewhere.
With more than 50 international games and experience in two of the best leagues in Europe, Perisic is a superb option for Conte and his attributes will also blend in well with the system at the Stamford Bridge.
However, it is to be seen if he will be the only midfield signing that Conte will make in the summer.