Chelsea have been relatively quiet on the transfer market so far, whilst their rivals have secured major signings, but it seems things are about to change significantly in West London with a major spending spree on the cards.
The Express report that Chelsea are ready to go all-out in the coming months with a whopping £240m spending spree, where Antonio Conte will eye quality over quantity as he seeks to improve his squad ahead of a Premier League title defence next season.
The Blues will also be put to the test in their return to the Champions League, which will stretch a side that lacks significant depth, but the reported signings on the cards for Chelsea will improve their options significantly.
Juventus full-back Alex Sandro looks set to arrive in a deal that could end up surpassing the club-record £50m the Blues previously paid for Fernando Torres and Virgil Van Dijk could also arrive from Southampton, bolstering Chelsea’s back-line.
The addition of Sandro and Van Dijk could allow Azpilicueta to return to his more natural position on the right-side, where he’d play at wing-back, with Dutch ace Van Dijk playing centrally alongside the likes of David Luiz.
Another key area that needs improving is central midfield, especially amidst reports that Nemanja Matic will leave Stamford Bridge to reunite with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, which leaves Conte scouring the market for the ideal midfield partner for last summer’s stellar acquisition N’Golo Kante.
The man on Chelsea’s shortlist is Monaco ace Tiemoue Bakayoko, who looks set to arrive as the first signing of Conte’s summer with reports indicating personal terms were agreed over the weekend that set-up a lucrative £35m transfer.
Finally, Chelsea will be focused on strengthening their attacking lines and replacing Diego Costa, who has been informed that he is surplus to requirements this summer, and the leading candidate to come into West London is Everton’s Romelu Lukaku.
Chelsea are said to have a deal worth £70m on the table for the Toffees ace, a significant amount more than the £30m-odd fee they sold the Belgian for previously, but Ronald Koeman’s side are standing firm and could demand a further £10m.
That would take Lukaku’s price-tag towards the £80m mark, making him one of the most expensive players in football history, but Chelsea’s position, where they could also lose Michy Batshuayi, means the Blues aren’t in a strong negotiating position.
Spending this much would send a real statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League, particularly the free-spending Manchester sides, and Chelsea would establish themselves in a strong position for the defence of their title next season- which is significant as no side has successfully defended their league crown this decade.