Chelsea are the “favourite” to snap up Torino centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno, according to TuttoJuve.com.

The Italian website claims that Juventus have been scouting the Italian, who has been capped twice since making his international debut back in June.

However, it is believed that Torino would only consider selling Buongiorno to a club abroad, giving Chelsea a huge advantage in securing the player’s signature either in January or at the end of the season.

The 24-year-old has been part of a defence that has conceded just 16 times in 16 matches this season, having impressed whilst playing for El Toro last campaign as well.

Is Buongiorno being targeted as Thiago Silva’s replacement?

With trusted journalist David Ornstein confirming last week that Thiago Silva is not expected to be retained by the Blues when his contract expires at the end of the season, it has prompted speculation as to who could replace the Brazilian legend.

Buongiorno could potentially be a candidate but he is left-footed. Manager Mauricio Pochettino already has Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile who are left-sided centre-backs so you would have to question why he would need another one.

Chelsea would have to pay a significant fee for the Torino defender

Despite not being a particularly high-profile player, it is believed that Buongiorno’s asking price has been set at around €40m (£34m). That is a pretty steep fee for a defender who is untested outside of Italy and who has never played continental football.

There is one example, though, where the centre-half has shown that he can perform at the highest level. Italy boss Luciano Spalletti started him in the crucial European Championship qualifier against Ukraine last month.

Buongiorno played the full 90 minutes and, crucially, helped keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw which sealed Itlay’s qualification for the tournament in Germany next summer.