Antonio Conte wants to swap David Luiz for Italian legend in January

Chelsea manager (R) and Chelsea defender David Luiz at a touchline [Photo: Courtesy]

Antonio Conte wants to swap David Luiz for Leonardo Bonucci in January. The Chelsea defender has not played in the Premier League since a falling out after the 3-0 Champions League defeat to Roma in October.

Conte has insisted Luiz is suffering from a knee injury but the Brazilian has been linked with Real Madrid and Juventus before the opening of the next transfer window.

Bonucci played for Conte for Juventus and Italy and the coach tried to sign the centre-back when he first moved to the Premier League last year.

The stopper left the Turin club for Milan in the summer after a fallout with Max Allegri. But despite a summer of heavy spending the season has been a disaster and the squad have been ordered to stay at their Milanello training camp before this weekend's game against Atalanta.

Italian sports daily Tuttosport today claimed Conte called Bonucci in October to ask if he was happy at Milan – and now wants “to bring the centre-back to West London.”

Milan have already reacted to the Tuttosport story on the club's website – and claimed there are “dark forces” trying to unsettle their club captain.

The statement said: “Our match against Atalanta is fast approaching, a clash that all of Milan care deeply about.

“Our work at Milanello this week must be further honoured, with intensity and determination on the field.

“This is very important for the team and their captain, who continues to be the subject of dark forces, when in reality there aren’t any.

“Instead, contact between two leading lights is normal: when there’s esteem and affection, they’re things that exist in the world of football.”