Major European Clubs on Alert as Serie A Side Atalanta Prepare to Sell Wantaway Defender

​Serie A side Atalanta could be at the centre of a bidding frenzy, as they have conceded that their highly-rated right-back Andrea Conti will leave the northern Italian side this summer. AC Milan are currently in pole position to sign the coveted defender, while Chelsea and Napoli are both believed to be waiting in the wings should the deal fall through.

According to reports from ​calciomercato.com, AC Milan are currently in negotiations over an acceptable fee for the 23-year-old, with Le Dea holding out for €30m. Conti has openly informed the club that he wishes to move to AC, with personal terms already agreed with the San Siro side.

Despite Atalanta's fourth place finish last season, sealing a Champions League place, Conti is determined to move on from the side he has been with since signing as a youth player at the age of 12. The rising talent has represented Italy 14 times at the U21 level, and contributed eight goals and five assists in the wing-back position for Atalanta in their fine campaign last term.

The Italian is capable of playing as a wing-back or a traditional winger, making him an ideal signing for any team wishing to playing with a solid back-three flanked by marauding wing-backs.  AC Milan look set to spend big this summer as they seek to challenge fierce rivals Inter in the transfer market. Conti could be the first of a host of new signings to join I Rossoneri.

Conti is believed to have dug his heels in over his club's initial lack of cooperation in the early stages of negotiations, leading the player's agent to claim that Conti would fail to attend Atalanta's preseason training if a deal with Milan was not struck. Atalanta are now prepared to let Conti go, with a view to reinvesting his transfer fee in new players to strengthen their side.

It is likely that Atalanta and AC will meet in the middle at the fee of €25m, with both clubs initially wishing the deal to be €5m either side of the compromise figure. AC may sweeten the deal for Atalanta, by also offering a player in exchange for Conti. Atalanta are already thought to be ready to sign a replacement, with KAA Gent right-back Thomas Foket the preferred option.