Chelsea linked with summer move for Sunderland outcast

Chelsea have been linked with a summer swoop for Sunderland outcast Emanuele Giaccherini - IF Antonio Conte takes charge at Stamford Bridge.
Emanuele GiaccheriniEmanuele Giaccherini
Emanuele Giaccherini

Italy coach Conte is expected to be named the new Chelsea boss in the summer and sources in Italy claim he wants to make winger Giaccherini one of his first signings.

Giaccherini is currently on a season-long loan deal with Serie A club Bologna, having failed to make a significant impact at the Stadium of Light in the last two years.

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He has scored six goals in 19 games this term and is reported to have caught the eye of Conte.

The 30-year-old moved to Wearside in a £6.5million switch from Juventus in July 2013, having been one of the most high-profile signings of the ill-fated Paolo Di Canio and Roberto De Fanti reign.

But a series of injuries has curtailed his availability, leading to just 18 Premier League starts and 43 appearances in total.

Sunderland were keen to get the Italian international off their wage bill last summer, with then boss Dick Advocaat ruling that the player was unsuited to the rigours of English football.