Premier League giants to battle it out for centre-back

Chelsea have not given up on signing Leonardo Bonucci, despite Manchester City's willingness to spend £51m to sign the Italian, writes the Daily Mirror. 

The Blues appeared in the driving seat to sign Bonucci, who played under new head coach Antonio Conte for Juventus and Italy. 

However, City boss Pep Guardiola is a huge fan of the 29-year-old and has earmarked him as a potential arrival having taken over the reins at the Etihad Stadium. 

He has made no secret of his admiration for Bonucci in the past, calling him “one of my favourite ever players” after his Bayern Munich side knocked Juventus out of the Champions League last season. 

Chelsea, though, won’t give up in their pursuit of Bonucci, with Conte eyeing his compatriot as the defensive lynchpin at Stamford Bridge next season. 

Bonucci isn’t the Blues’ only summer defensive target, with the west London giants thought to be closing in on a move for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.

Both managers are in the market for a ball playing centre-back, with Bonucci ranking fourth for passes per game (64.8) of all defenders in Serie A last season, a parameter Koulibaly topped (73.2).

For more stats on Leonardo Bonucci, click here to view his WhoScored player page