Emanuele Giaccherini's not giving up his Chelsea dream that easily

Emanuele Giaccherini is currently busy being a key part of Conte's Italy that is better than the sum of its parts, but he knows that soon those good times at Euro 2016 will be over and he will have to go back to the harsh realities of being a Sunderland player.  Or a player on loan from Sunderland player.  Either way, that sounds like a miserable existence.

So he wants something more, something better.  At 31 years of age, it may be his last chance to do so.  And so, buoyed by the national team's and his own good performances, he's still dreaming big.

"There's Torino and Bologna, but also some teams abroad. We're available to [Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo] Corvino, but he hasn't called me yet. I'd like to see him here, no doubt, but there are other situations in play now."

"This is probably the hight point of Giaccherini's career. If Conte calls then we'll fly to Chelsea."

-Furio Valcareggi, agent; source: Lady Radio via Football Italia

Previous rumors claimed that the Chelsea bit was nothing more than a pipe dream, but his agent keeps putting it out there just in case Conte has a moment of charitable, sympathetic weakness.  Stay strong, Antonio!  These aren't the pair of midfield legs you're looking for!