Antonio Conte tells Chelsea he wants to sign Romelu Lukaku this summer even if it costs them £100m
Everton have told Chelsea it will cost them £100million if they are serious about signing the Belgian international who wants a return to Stamford Bridge
ANTONIO CONTE has insisted Chelsea must land Romelu Lukaku this summer, even if it means they fork out £100million.
The Everton striker has made it clear he wants to leave Goodison Park, with Stamford Bridge his preferred destination ahead of a move to Manchester United.
Conte has made the Belgian hitman his number one priority as he looks to add to his squad to defend the Premier League title and make an impact in the Champions League.
The Blues are close to landing Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko who has undergone a medical in London ahead of his £35m switch.
Chelsea are still in the mix to sign Juventus left-back Alex Sandro and Roma central defender Antonio Rudiger who helped Germany win the Confederations Cup in Russia.
Lukaku moved to Stamford Bridge from Anderlecht as a teenager in 2011, and only made 10 appearances before loan spells at West Brom and Everton.
The report Lukaku is the man Conte wants to replace Diego Costa in West London - the Spanish international has been told he is not part of the manager’s plans moving forward.
Costa is the subject of talks between the Blues and Atletico Madrid, and is prepared to move back to La Liga this summer and wait until January to be registered due to Atletico’s transfer ban.
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With that in mind, Conte has told Chelsea deal maker Marina Granovskaia the 24-year-old has to be re-signed, and that could mean shelling out a world record fee for the striker.
The Toffees huge price tag has not deterred Conte who tried to sign Lukaku during his time at Juventus – and sees him as the perfect all-round forward who can operate in a front two or upfront on his own.