Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is plotting a swoop on former club Inter Milan after entering the race to sign centre-back Andrea Ranocchia, according to the Daily Star. The move comes as the Blues prepare themselves for the loss of David Luiz in the New Year, with the Brazilian tipped to join Barcelona. And Ranocchia, who has also been linked with Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal, is on Mourinho's shortlist of replacements when the transfer window reopens next month. The Italian is finding first team opportunities dip under manager Walter Mazzarri at the San Siro, with Inter now preparing to cut their losses on the 25-year-old, who is set to star for his country at next summer's World Cup with Italy being paired in the same group as England. That means any interested party would want to tie up a deal now or risk seeing his price tag skyrocket in 2014 if the Italians enjoy a successful tournament. The defender recently played down talk linking him with a move away from Inter, and has been quoted as saying:
"Many silly things have been written about me, that I am unhappy and I want to leave. "I am just thinking about this shirt and paying back the fans for the affection they have for me."
However, he is yet to sign a new contract and could spark a tussle for his signature in January, with the aforementioned four Premier League sides all set to scrap it out for his services.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
