Chelsea are set for a busy summer as the Premier League champions must improve their side to have a chance of retaining their league crown next season, whilst the Blues must also prepare for a return to Champions League action.

The depth in Antonio Conte’s side is significantly lacking and was fortunately not really put to the test this season, although the Blues won’t be as lucky next term due to their endeavours in Europe- which means Conte has to splash the cash.

Whilst the majority of the business they’ll need to complete orientates around sealing understudy’s to stars currently within the starting line-up, the Blues seem intent on securing a top-class striker to rival Diego Costa for a starting spot at Stamford Bridge.

Michy Batshuayi’s likely exit this summer, and the fact Costa continues to be linked with a move of his own, means that Chelsea desperately need a top-class striker to strengthen their lines- and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is a top-target.

With Alvaro Morata seemingly set to return to Italy after a disappointing season back with Real Madrid, Chelsea’s options on the transfer front are limited and the Blues will have to go toe-to-toe with Manchester United for the signature of Lukaku.

Conte’s side do have an advantage in the chase though as Lukaku has always stated he has unfinished business at Stamford Bridge, whilst a move to United seems difficult due to the fact it was Jose Mourinho who sanctioned his departure from West London.

United have the money to ensure those problems aren’t decisive, although Chelsea are no penny pinchers and can afford a deal- although it would mean setting a club-record as Lukaku would certainly cost more than the £50m the Blues paid Liverpool for Fernando Torres.

Remarkably, that would mean both Chelsea and United have spent record-breaking sums to bring former players back to their respective sides, following Paul Pogba’s £89m return to Old Trafford last summer, but that isn’t really as big as an issue as people make out.

Tit for tat, Lukaku would be the ideal candidate to replace Diego Costa in the Chelsea line-up as the Belgian is deadly, strong and vastly experienced in the Premier League- which means he should be able to settle into Chelsea’s side immediately.

However, the problem for Chelsea is that are limited options elsewhere and it means all their eggs seem to be in Lukaku’s basket- and the same is the case for Manchester United, following the collapse of their pursuit for Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann.

At least one of these English giants is set to be disappointed on the market when it comes to Lukaku and Chelsea need to ensure it’s not them, especially as sealing a deal for the Everton man would issue a real statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League.