Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. (Photo : Getty Images)
Incoming Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte is reportedly eyeing Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic as a potential replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who is rumored to be on his way out of the Stamford Bridge this summer.
Recent rumors have emerged that Courtois is preparing towards a summer exit after the dethroned English Premier League champions failed to qualify in next season's UEFA Champions League competitions.
Chelsea finished at the tenth spot of the league table after they regained their form under interim manager Guus Hiddink in the second half of the season.
Courtois became the Blues' regular starter a few games before they sold veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech to Arsenal last summer.
The deal seemed to be a wrong move in retrospect as Cech performed well for the Gunners this season, leading the team to one of the lowest goals allowed in the whole term and to a second-place finish in the English top flight, while the 24-year-old Courtois has not met expectations at the Bridge as the Pensioners gave away a whopping 53 goals to their opponents in 38 games.
Chelsea has already "opened preliminary discussions" with the Italian Serie A giants with regards to Handanovic, according to the Daily Star.
The 31-year-old Slovenian keeper is said to be the favorite of Conte as his first choice goal tender because of "his wealth of experience" as he had been a professional for over 14 seasons to date.
Handanovic had just finished his fourth season with La Beneamata, appearing in a total of 162 games in all competitions. Before that, he played in six season with another Serie A team, Udinese Calcio, registering 209 appearances in all competitions for Bianconeri Friuliani.
Meanwhile, the Sun noted that Chelsea has placed a "£50 million price-tag" on Courtois. Some of the teams that are rumored to be targeting the Belgium international this summer are La Liga powerhouse squads FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The report mentioned that Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is ready to give up their hunt for Manchester United's David De Gea for Courtois while Barça is preparing for the departure of Marc-Andre ter Stegen from the Camp Nou.
Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini said to have already given the "green light" to sell Handanovic to the Blues, however, as the I Nerazzurri's sporting director, Piero Ausilio, is allegedly on his way to England to "seal the deal".
