Leonardo Bonucci’s agent in Manchester to discuss Man City transfer but Antonio Conte will not be bringing defender to Chelsea
LEONARDO BONUCCI could leave Juventus this summer but only to Manchester City, according to reports in Italy.
The defender has been the subject of a £38million bid by the Etihad club which was rejected.
The 29-year-old moved to Juventus in 2010 and won the first three of his five Serie A titles working under Antonio Conte.
However, the pair will not be re-united at Stamford Bridge as the now former Italy boss allegedly has a gentleman’s agreement with the Old Lady that he will not return to poach any of their players.
Bonucci starred for Conte at Euro 2016 as the Azzurri impressed the continent with their enthusiasm and style en route to a heartbreaking quarter-final defeat on penalties against Germany.
The chemistry between the pair led many to suggest they would soon be on the same side again at Chelsea, but that now appears off the table.
Juventus were thought be extremely reluctant to sell Bonucci, but are on the verge of completing a deal to sign Medhi Benatia from Bayern Munich, who could act as a direct replacement for the Italy ace.
The Serie A champions would still only entertain offers which bettered the world record of £50m for a defender, which Paris Saint-Germain paid Chelsea for David Luiz in 2014.
Pep Guardiola replaced Manuel Pellegrini as City boss this summer and has made signing a central defender one of his top priorities.
Aymeric Laporte emerged as an early target, but the Frenchman signed a new contract to stay at Athletic Bilbao.
While John Stones is another name on the cards.
The Everton defender has suffered a severe dip in form recently and failed make play a single minute for England at Euro 2016.
Bonucci would be a more reliable and established defender, which is something City lack when captain Vincent Kompany is missing.
However, Guardiola may than their record outlay of £49m on Raheem Sterling.