ROM RAID

Chelsea transfer news: £30m Alessio Romagnoli bid rejected by AC Milan as Blues pursue Kalidou Koulibaly alternatives

ALEC SHILTON

Published: 15:21, 22 Aug 2016
Updated: 21:11, 22 Aug 2016

Sponsored by

CHELSEA have trained their sights on Alessio Romagnoli as a central-defensive target and tabled £30million, according to reports in Italy.

But his club AC Milan are determined to keep him and have dismissed Antonio Conte's opening offer.

Alessio Romagnoli is believed to b a £30m Chelsea target — Alessio Romagnoli is believed to b a £30m Chelsea targetCredit: Getty Images

Romagnoli beats Gary Cahill to a header when the sides met in a friendly earlier this month — Romagnoli beats Gary Cahill to a header when the sides met in a friendlyCredit: Reuters

Romagnoli and Lorenzo Crisetig try to stop Harry Kane in an u-21 international — Romagnoli and Lorenzo Crisetig try to stop Harry Kane in an U-21 internationalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Blues have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of chief target Kalidou Koulibaly with the Senegal defender set to snub a move to Stamford Bridge and sign a fresh deal with Napoli.

The London club are now believed to have told Napoli that they have lodged their final bid and moved on to other targets.

Blues boss Antonio Conte got a close look at Romagnoli when Chelsea beat Milan 3-1 in a friendly earlier this month

Related stories

Thibaut Courtois: Antonio Conte's gruelling pre-season regime has put us among big boys

WE'RE FIT FOR PURPOSE

Thibaut Courtois: Antonio Conte's gruelling pre-season regime has put us among big boys

Forgotten Chelsea midfielder Marko Marin signs permanent deal with Olympiakos

Forgotten Chelsea midfielder Marko Marin signs permanent deal with Olympiakos

Arsenal and Chelsea fighting it out to sign 17-year-old Argentinian wonderkid Naza Bazan Vera

Race to bag Bazan

Arsenal and Chelsea fighting it out to sign 17-year-old Argentinian wonderkid Naza Bazan Vera

Diego Costa's brother sparks mass confusion with Instagram picture of the indentical duo

Diego's doppelganger

Diego Costa's brother sparks mass confusion with Instagram picture of the indentical duo

The Italy under-21 international is now thought to be one of two principle defensive targets.

Nikola Maksimovic is also on the radar - who is ironically a target for Napoli as well.

Romagnoli started his career with Roma before moving to the Rossoneri at the end of last summer in a £20m deal.

Kalidou Koulibaly now appears set to remain at Chelsea — Kalidou Koulibaly now appears set to remain at ChelseaCredit: Getty Images

Torino defender Nikola Maksimovic is also thought to be on Chelseas radar — Torino defender Nikola Maksimovic is also thought to be on Chelsea's radarCredit: Getty Images

He impressed in his 33 league starts under former managers Sinisa Mihajlovic and Cristian Brocchi, with Milan finishing seventh in Serie A.

New boss Vincenzo Montella is desperate to hang on to Romagnoli but, according to Sky Italia, the Blues have tested their resolve with a monster bid.

And, after being bought out for £628m by a Chinese investment group, who wiped out their £187m of debts, Milan should be in a position to drive a hard bargain.

Topics