Chelsea boss Antonio Conte handed £140m for summer transfer window!
Aug 15, 2016 at 12:26 PM
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is planning a significant assault on the transfer window before it closes after being handed a massive £140m war-chest to strengthen his squad, according to the Daily Express.
The Blues have already added two marquee signings in N’Golo Kante from Leicester City and exciting Belgian attacker Michy Batshuayi, but the Italian manager is determined to bolster his squad even further as he seeks Premier League title glory in his first season in at Stamford Bridge.
With this fresh injection of cash, Conte is expected to pursue deals for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. Chelsea are believed to have already had a £42m bid turned down for the defender, while they have been courting their former striker all summer – who, pertinently, has expressed a desire to leave Goodison Park.
According to the Express’s report, Chelsea are willing to exercise patience stretching to the transfer deadline day for Lukaku, but are expected to accelerate their interest in Koulibaly.
Both players are purported to be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge, but prising them away from their respective clubs may be a protracted process, especially with Everton preparing a bumper new contract for the Belgian striker.
Chelsea have also been linked with Santos midfielder Thiago Maia, who would cost in the region of £15m.
Interestingly, Chelsea coach Carlo Cudicini assured one restless fan on Twitter that the club is doing everything in its power to build a squad necessary to wrestle back the Premier League title.
CFC coach Cudicini has confirmed the club are doing everything to strengthen ahead of transfer deadline day[ES] pic.twitter.com/aZizmFDEOb
— Chelsea (@ouggi) August 14, 2016
“I appreciate your desire to help, but rest assured, the Club is doing everything they can to build a competitive team,” he wrote.