---
title: "Incoming Chelsea manager scouts two defenders ahead of summer swoop"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/incoming-chelsea-manager-scouts-two-defenders-ahead-of-summer-swoop/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Josh Challies"
section: "Chelsea Football Club"
published: "2016-04-19T17:46:15Z"
modified: "2016-04-19T17:46:15Z"
---

# Incoming Chelsea manager scouts two defenders ahead of summer swoop

![Luis Muriel](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Luis-Muriel-500x341.jpeg)Chelsea fans in the Transfer Tavern are gearing themselves up for a new era next season under Antonio Conte and the Italian is getting stuck-in immediately.

[*CalcioMercato*](https://www.calciomercato.com/news/inter-napoli-conte-in-tribuna-fra-nazionale-e-mercato-961082)[state](https://www.calciomercato.com/news/inter-napoli-conte-in-tribuna-fra-nazionale-e-mercato-961082) that Italy’s current national manager, who’ll start his post at Stamford Bridge after this summer’s European Championships, attended Inter Milan’s 2-0 win over Napoli this weekend to scout a number of targets.

With John Terry likely to end his long association with the Blues this summer, Conte was looking at defensive recruits and the duo identified as [the reasons for his scouting trip were Inter’s Jeison Murillo and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.](https://metro.co.uk/2016/04/18/antonio-conte-scouting-inter-milans-jeison-murillo-for-potential-chelsea-transfer-5824109/)

Murillo, a 23-year-old Colombian international and predominantly a central defender, could be seen as the ideal successor to Terry in the heart of the Blues defence but Napoli’s 24-year-old versatile man Koulibaly may also come into the squad.

Whilst Murillo could lead the defence, Koulibaly could be chosen as his partner or feature on the right-side ahead of an ageing Branislav Ivanovic, whilst he’s also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder.

Our landlord feels Murillo is the more adequate signing, although he does see Koulibaly’s versatility as appealing for the Blues.

**Chelsea fans, which of these defenders would you like to sign? Let us know in the comments below!**