Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly among four clubs vying for the signature of Inter Milanwinger Antonio Candreva.
As per a report from TransferMarketWeb, Inter Milan winger Antonio Candreva is garnering heavy interest from Europe’s top sides. Manchester United, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Napoli are all reportedly vying for the player’s signature and are set to lock horns in the summer.
Antonio Candreva has spent his entire senior career in Italy, jumping from one Italian club to another. The player joined Udinese in 2007 but was since loaned out to the likes of Juventus, Livorno, Parma, Cesena and Lazio, who ultimately signed the player on permanent basis in 2013.
The player, though, joined Inter Milan in the summer of 2016 and in his debut season for Nerazzurri, the player has been a regular at San Siro, playing a part in each of the club’s 32 Serie A games so far. And his return of 6 goals and 8 assists in the league isn’t ordinary by any standard whatsoever.
His performances have now drawn interest from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Napoli. Chelsea were linked with the player in January as well, with Conte an admirer of the player’s talents. The Blues are short-handed at the right wing-back position and the Italian was seen as a perfect fit for the system.
However, Victor Moses has performed admirably, which may have been one of the reasons Chelsea decided against pursuing the player in January. But, with the new campaign on the horizon, UEFA Champions League is now a certainty for Chelsea, which would require depth in the squad – something they currently lack.
Antonio Candreva has now scored 44 Serie A goals since 2012/13; more than any other midfielder in that time.
Tidy finish. Massive goal. pic.twitter.com/hTrscpTVIL
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 15, 2017
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is a big fan of Antonio Candreva but the player would be reluctant to leave San Siro this summer
— DailyFútbol (@TheCreamOfFooty) April 21, 2017
Manchester United, on other hand, are looking to add to their wing options as well. The Red Devils have let go of Memphis Depay and with Marcus Rashford clearly better in a central role, the right wing is short of options.
The Red Devils have been linked with a lot of wingers in the recent times – with Goncalo Guedes reportedly rejecting the club in favour of PSG in January and Mourinho is sure to add a winger to his ranks in the summer.
Candreva is an experienced international and his work-rate could be something that will be a huge positive for the Manchester outfit.
The player is contracted to Inter Milan till 2020, though, and is expected to cost a considerable amount, with Inter Milan in no mood to part with the player.
Also, Candreva has spent his whole life accustomed to Italian football. So, there may be questions as to his ability to adapt to English football – which makes Napoli the favourites to land the player, if Inter Milan do end up offloading the player.
It depends on Candreva now – whether he wants to take up the challenge of proving himself in a new league or otherwise. But, the English clubs are sure to have a go at the 30-year-old and it would be intriguing to see how this pans out.
