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Chelsea is the dream for Sunderland's Emanuele Giaccherini - agent

Emanuele Giaccherini is still holding out hope of a "dream" move to Chelsea as he weighs up interest from several Serie A clubs, according to his agent.

Last month Furio Valcareggi talked up a potential move to Stamford Bridge for his client, who is actively looking to leave Sunderland after making just 43 appearances over two years at the Stadium of Light, before spending last season on loan at Bologna.

Torino are reportedly leading the chase to sign Giaccherini while Fiorentina and Bologna are also said to be interested, but Valcareggi has reiterated that Giaccherini would take a move to Stamford Bridge ahead of any other option.

"Unfortunately we don't [have an agreement with Torino]," Valcareggi told Gazzetta Dello Sport. "There has been contact and interest.

"Torino have taken note of the costs and how the transfer would have to be done and now they are considering it. But this also applies to Fiorentina and Bologna, who are gathering information before moving on.

"If Chelsea were to call? Chelsea would be a dream."

Giaccherini's stock in the transfer market has been raised significantly by a series of impressive performances for Italy at Euro 2016, where Antonio Conte's men beat Belgium and eliminated Spain before being edged out on penalties at the end of a tense quarter-final with Germany on Saturday.

Conte is now preparing for his first season in charge of Chelsea and will begin working with the first-team squad at Cobham next week, before heading to Austria for a week-long training camp on July 15 and then flying to the US to participate in the International Champions Cup.

Last week Chelsea completed the first signing since Conte's appointment with the arrival of Belgium international striker Michy Batshuayi from Marseille in a £33 million deal, but the 46-year-old is also prioritising central midfield reinforcements before the Premier League campaign begins on Aug. 13.

Radja Nainggolan, the No.1 target, revealed last month that Conte, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois have all tried to convince him to move to Stamford Bridge this summer, but he appears happy to stay at Roma.

Chelsea are also said to be interested in activating the reported £20m release clause in N'Golo Kante's contract at Leicester City, though Arsenal and Juventus have also been heavily linked with a move for the 25-year-old.