Alex Sandro to Chelsea? Juventus defender ready to snub Manchester United to join Antonio Conte's side

Chelsea are reportedly the firm favourites to sign Juventus defender Alex Sandro in the January transfer window.

The Brazil international was a transfer target for the Blues manager Antonio Conte in the summer transfer window. However, the left-back was not allowed to leave the Turin club by the Old Lady.

Sandro is still a target for the Premier League winners. The 26-year-old is also wanted by Chelsea's league rivals Manchester United as Jose Mourinho looks to strengthen his left-back position.

According to The Sun, the Red Devils had put the Juventus full-back on the list of targets in the mid-season transfer window. The Portuguese tactician had identified Sandro as a priority target in January as an alternative to Tottenham Hotspur star Danny Rose.

However, the Juventus star is ready to snub Mourinho's United in favour of a move to his former club in January. The player has reportedly informed the Italian outfit that he wants a move away from the Allianz Stadium. The former Porto left-back has informed Juventus that he is keen on completing a switch to Stamford Bridge.

Juventus had earlier slapped a £80m ($106.7m) price tag on Sandro in the summer as they were aware that Chelsea will not meet their asking price. The player was hoping the deal would take shape and he did not have to force through a move away from the club.

It is believed that Sandro's relationship with Juventus has deteriorated this season, which has been one of the reasons for his poor form. The defender has started in only eight Serie A games, while he has been the first choice player in his position for the Champions League fixtures.

Chelsea will be hoping to place a bid which will be much lower than the £80m Juventus had demanded in the summer for Sandro. The Sun claims that losing out on Sandro will be a blow to Mourinho, who is looking to allow Luke Shaw to leave the club at the start of the year.

Meanwhile, Juventus director general Beppe Marotta had earlier admitted that Juventus will not keep a player who is "unsatisfied" at the club. This could come as an encouragement for Chelsea in their pursuit of Sandro.

"We have said many times that when a player asks to be sold, regardless of prestige or importance within the team, we are in favour of a sale. When a player is unsatisfied, it is better to let him go," Marotta told Mediaset Premium, as relayed by Football Italia.

"In the case of Alex Sandro, he was in full agreement with the idea of remaining with us. His performances are down to his own personal issues that we won't go into here."