Reports in this morning’s La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Chelsea have made an official approach to Napoli for Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly. Incoming coach Antonio Conte is reported to be keen on landing the 24-year-old who helped the vesuviani claim the best defensive record in Serie A last season only conceding 32 goals (a record in Italy for a 20 club top-flight). Napoli took the player to Serie A from Genk for €7 million two seasons ago and his value on today’s market has risen to at least €20 million.
 

The journal states that Conte is anxious to provide more defensive cover at the West London club next season but it will be difficult to persuade the player to come to the Premier League having secured Champions League football with the Italian side next season. Napoli are also set to sign Empoli defender Lorenzo Tonelli next week who coach Maurizio Sarri had under his tutelage when he was in charge of the Tuscan side.  

According to Corriere dello Sport, Milan wants to bring Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic back to Serie A this summer. The 22-year-old Croatian joined the Spanish giants from city rivals Inter last summer but has failed to impress at the Bernabeu.

Premier League champions Leicester City are keen on Inter‘s Colombian defender Jefferson Murillo. Corriere dello Sport claims that the nerazzurri would be open to the move if they can land Jeffrey Bruma from PSV Eindhoven.


 

Tuttosport are still confident that Liverpool and Fiorentina can come to an arrangement over Mario Balotelli and Josip Ilicic. The Anfield club are interested in the 28-year-old Bosnian midfielder and have offered the Italian striker, who spent this season on-loan at Milan, as part of any deal.  

The Turin based journal also states that former Italian national team coach Cesare Prandelli is the favourite to become the new coach of Atalanta.
 

Corriere dello Sport predicts that former Napoli and Inter coach Walter Mazzarri will be announced as the new boss of Watford later today.
 

The same journal claims that Lazio’s search for a new striker will bring them to the Premier League with Southampton’s Italian frontman Graziano Pelle top of their list to replace Miroslav Klose.


 

Juventus officials will be at the Stade de France this evening to observe two of their potential summer transfer targets, PSG striker Edinson Cavani and Marseille frontman Michy Batshuayi.(Corriere dello Sport)

Steve Mitchell @barafundler