Coventry City are being linked with Italian defender Mauro Milanese.

The giant centreback is under contract to Inter Milan but played only seven times in the Serie A last season, and his club is believed to be ready to release him.

There was no comment from Coventry City today, but Italian newspapers have been running the story.

Coventry’s chairman Bryan Richardson has promised another signing before the new season and he and manager Gordon Strachan have been regular attenders at matches on the continent.

They picked up Moroccan international midfielder Youssef Chippo for £1million from FC Porto and if the Italian media are to be believed Milanese could follow.

He stands over six feet tall and would make a formidable centre back pairing with the Bosnian international Mo Konjic.

Milanese, 27, was born in Trieste and has played 109 Serie A league matches, mostly for Parma with whom he won a UEFA Cup medal in 1997-98.

He began his career with Monfalcone and played for Massese and Triestina before reaching Serie A with Cremonese. He then played for Torino and Napoli before transferring to Inter Milan in the 1997-98 season where he has played a total of 25 cup and league games.

Coventry, meanwhile have heard nothing from Venezia over their offer to buy striker Stefano Gioacchini. He was three months at the club leading up to the end of last season and Coventry manager Gordon Strachan said he wanted him to stay on contract.