Luca Percassi, the CEO of Atalanta BC, has claimed that the Italian outfit can only benefit from Stephen Pagliuca winning the race to buy Chelsea.

Pagliuca, a current shareholder of Atalanta, is one of three candidates bidding to complete a takeover of Chelsea over the coming weeks.

Should Pagliuca be selected as the preferred bidder by US merchant bank Raine Group, Pagliuca would need to part with his percentage of the Nerazzurri.

However, according to Percassi, the powers-that-be at Atalanta appear to be eyeing up a link-up with the world champions.

Percassi is quoted by Tuttosport: "We hope that Pagliuca will be able to take Chelsea, we would have enormous advantages."

Each of the three candidates have submitted their final proposals and are now waiting a decision from Raine Group.