Rumors are out that Juventus center back Leonardo Bonucci, who had played under incoming head coach Antonio Conte with the Italy national team for the past five years, is being targeted by English Premier League side Chelsea this summer.

The Mirror reported that the Stamford Bridge residents were "given a boost in their pursuit of" Bonucci after the 28-year-old defender expressed doubt about his future with the club. The Italian is under contract with Juventus until the year 2020 after signing an extension in July of last year.

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While La Vecchia Signora is said to be keen on keeping Bonucci, who had been instrumental in Juve's success in claiming their fifth straight Scudetto this season, the 6-foot-3 Viterbo native allegedly "refused to commit his future to the newly-crowned Italian champions".

"I haven't said anything yet. The question hasn't been asked, so I can't say either yes or no," he told reporters when asked if he will remain with Le Zebre next season.

Bonucci had played for Conte in the Italian national squad for the last two years and in Juve during the previous three years before that.

It was also reported that the Blues' interest on Bonucci stems from the uncertainty that team captain John Terry, who plays the same position as the Italian, would stay in England next season. The 35-year-old Terry has yet to sign an extension as season's end draws near even as his current contract will expire in the summer.

Meanwhile, Caught Offside noted that Conte will "inherit an almost elderly squad, including a few really bad eggs, so he better be prepared to get busy in the transfer market" and one of the primary areas of concern is the team's defense.

The report said that defense is arguably the team's "main area of weakness" since they won the Premier League title last year.

"Crystal Palace, West Brom and Watford have all been tighter at the back than the ninth-placed Blues this term, while only Bournemouth, Norwich, Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa have kept fewer clean sheets in the top-flight", the report mentioned.

Tags Football Transfer Rumors, Leonardo Bonucci, Juventus FC, Chelsea FC, John Terry