Reports in Italy suggest that Watford and Swansea are chasing former Liverpool target and Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia who has been capped 20 times by Italy.

TuttoSport in Italy are reporting that Watford and us are interested in a move for Ranocchia who previously played under Walter Mazzari when he was manager of Inter.

He has been at the San Siro since a £15 million move from Genoa in 2011, but was sent out on loan to fellow Serie A side Sampdoria last for the second half of last season, where he made 16 appearances.

He has made just five Serie A appearances this season and is reportedly available for a transfer.

He was a target for Liverpool supposedly last January although nothing materialised for the man who was once described as one of the best of his generation

Standing 6ft 5in tall and possessing the ability to keep pace with almost every striker he has faced, Ranocchia has all the physical tools needed to become a fine defender. He is equally comfortable in possession, as evidenced by an average pass-completion rate of 86% per game in 2014/15, while he is also capable of coping with the physical demands that come with playing as a centre-half.

“He’s perfectly in tune with the spirit of Inter,” Javier Zanetti said of the new club captain in 2014. He isn't the only Inter legend to speak highly of Ranocchia either, with Beppe Bergomi stating that “whenever he plays with continuity, he has done very well”.

“Andrea is a great guy and we all know his qualities,” the 1982 World Cup winner added, although he did also offer a word of caution by saying he believed Ranocchia “needs to feel that the fans and his coach have confidence in him”.

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