Chelsea Transfer News: Branislav Ivanovic, Antonio Rudiger, Latest Blues Rumours

Juventus could reportedly snap up Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on a free transfer in the summer if Stephan Lichtsteiner leaves the Old Lady. 

According to the Sun's Alvise Cagnazzo, Juve would be prepared to offer Ivanovic, 32, a three-year deal worth £41,000-a-week, but only if out-of-favour Lichtsteiner leaves the club, potentially for Barcelona.

Serbia international Ivanovic has been at Chelsea since 2008, but he has lost his place in the starting XI under manager Antonio Conte, who has recently preferred a back three of Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta.

In truth, the former Lokomotiv Moscow player—who can operate at centre-back or right-back—is something of a makeweight now at Stamford Bridge.

Unlike team-mates Thibaut Courtois, Nemanja Matic and Eden Hazard, Ivanovic has failed to recover to his previous excellent form after a terrible campaign in 2015-16:

His current Blues deal expires at the end of the 2016-17 term, and it seems highly unlikely he will be offered an extension.

Ivanovic would surely jump at the opportunity to join Juventus, where he would likely end his career if he did sign a three-year deal.

He could also fare better in Serie A than he has of late in the Premier League. Per Cagnazzo, Ivanovic would suit the Italian style of play as he "makes up for his lack of pace with robustness."

Meanwhile, despite Chelsea's recent run of six league games on the bounce without conceding a goal, Conte is still eager to bolster his defence and is reportedly prepared to spend big money on AS Roma's Antonio Rudiger.

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Per Italy's Premium Sport (via Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness), Chelsea are ready to bid over €30 million (£25.7 million) for the 23-year-old centre-back, more than double what Roma paid for him in 2015.

While Azpilicueta, Luiz and Cahill have been excellent of late, the Blues remain just an injury away from a defensive crisis.

Their cover includes Ivanvovic—whose deficiencies have been discussed above—a 35-year-old John Terry and Kurt Zouma, who is recovering from a serious knee injury. In the long term, their lack of depth is sure to be exposed.

The addition of Germany international Rudiger would be an excellent move from Chelsea as he can operate in multiple systems, boasts terrific talent and is only going to improve as he gains more experience.