Maurizio Sarri ‘draws up £140m Chelsea transfer wishlist’ as he looks to raid Napoli for Dries Mertens, Jean-Elseid Hysaj and Jose Callejon
The Italian manager is expected to replace compatriot Antonio Conte in the Stamford Bridge dugout and is ready to tempt some of his Napoli stars to the Premier League
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MAURIZIO SARRI will raid his old club Napoli as the manager looks set to take over as Chelsea manager, it is reported.
Sarri, 59, has drawn up a list of transfer targets which include three Napoli players and is preparing to spend £140million according to reports.
believe Sarri, who is widely expected to replace Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge, wants to bring Dries Mertens, Elseid Hysaj and Jose Callejon from Napoli to west London.
Napoli have already brought in Carlo Ancelotti to replace Sarri while it is understood the latter continues contract negotiations with both clubs but is expected to get it sorted with Napoli by the end of June, according to .
Mertens, 31, is currently part of the Belgium squad hoping to overcome England in Group G at the World Cup but is expected to be among Sarri's primary targets.
He scored 21 goals for the Italian club last season and netted his country's opener with a sweet volley against Panama on Monday but is likely to cost £28m.
Right-back Hysaj would provide competition to Victor Moses with Davide Zappacosta expected to leave the club after a disappointing first season.
But the Callejon deal is unlikely with AC Milan reportedly keen on the 31-year-old former Real Madrid forward.
Also on Sarri's reported transfer wishlist include Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, Inter and Uruguay midfielder Matias Vecino and Jean Seri, the Nice midfielder.
It is thought that Sarri will fund his extravagant list by selling Brazilians David Luiz and Willian, former Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater and last summer's major signing Alvaro Morata.
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Luiz only featured in 17 games under Conte last season, while Drinkwater made 22 appearances in his first season at Chelsea following his £35m move from the King Power Stadium.
Jose Mourinho is thought to be keen to take Willian to Manchester United to bolster his forward line.
But with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez already at Old Trafford, it is unclear if Willian would be guaranteed game time.
Morata missed out on Spain's World Cup squad following his poor season at Chelsea and could be handed an escape route away from the Premier League with Inter and Borussia Dortmund both reportedly interested.