According to sources in Italy, Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in signing Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel this summer. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims both Premier League sides are set to lock horns and try to tempt the Belgian midfielder to join their ranks.

Witsel joined Zenit from Benfica in 2012 for around £30 million, but it is constantly reported that the 26-year-old is fed up of life in Russia, and will look to move away this summer with Juventus also interested in his services.

In fact, Juventus could well be the favourites to land Witsel. With Pirlo set to leave, Vidal rumoured to want out and Paul Pogba likely to join Real Madrid in the summer, it is almost certain that Juventus will look for a new central midfielder.

Manchester United have been scouting Witsel for a while, and with a number of central midfield targets such as Schweinsteiger, Gundogan and Schneiderlin all rumoured to make a move it could prove that LvG is interested in Witsel as more of a back-up plan. Although it is previously claimed that Witsel is a United fan.

Chelsea have a brilliant defensive midfielder in their ranks in Nemanja Matic, but manager Jose Mourinho is apparently looking to add to his squad and could bring in Witsel to provide more competition in the midfield department while also making sure he has all bases covered.

It is too early to say whether United and Chelsea’s interest is firm, but it would make sense for both clubs to keep their eye out for the midfielder as he is one of the best around.