Chelsea step up contract talks with Antonio Conte and summer transfer plans in bid to keep Italian boss
Italian boss has his sights set on a number of transfer targets including Alex Sandro, Romelu Lukaku and Tiemoue Bakayoko
CHELSEA will step up contract talks in a bid to keep boss Antonio Conte.
The Premier League champions want the Italian, 47, to sign a new deal to erase doubts over his future.
Conte is currently on holiday.
But advisor Federico Pastorello is in regular contact with the Blues in a bid to sort out a deal before pre-season. He has two years remaining on a £6.5million-a-year contract, but could see his salary boosted by £3m.
For now, Conte will wait for the right signings to defend the title. Juve wing-back Alex Sandro is the marquee signing he wants.
But the Brazil international, 26, is rated at £70m by the Italian champions.
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Juve general director Giuseppe Marotta said: “We said no to a very good offer from Chelsea for Alex Sandro.”
Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has been targeted to strengthen Conte’s midfield and talks over a £30m move are ongoing.
Chelsea transfer guru Marina Granovskaia has also been trying to get the right deal for striker Diego Costa to leave after he was told he was not in Conte’s plans.
As revealed by SunSport, Conte accepts the blame for sending a text effectively axing Costa, a move that could cost the Blues £10m as clubs know he is not wanted.
Everton ace Romelu Lukaku is on Conte’s hit-list to return to Chelsea.
It is clear Conte feels his squad needs freshening up, even if they romped to the title with plenty to spare.