Chelsea to embark on £95million spending spree this week as they close in on deals for Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alex Sandro
Antonio Conte is determined to strengthen his side this summer as the Italian looks to win back-to-back Premier League titles
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TIEMOUE BAKAYOKO will start Chelsea’s £95million spree this week by completing his move from Monaco.
And Juventus’ Alex Sandro is also closing in on a switch to the Premier League champions as Antonio Conte looks to seal his first signings of the summer.
Chelsea hope to announce the deals when the transfer window opens on Saturday as they plan to unveil their new Nike kit.
France midfielder Bakayoko will cost £35million with Brazilian Sandro, valued at £60million, set to become the most expensive defender in world football should the left-back finalise a move to Stamford Bridge.
However, reports in Italy last night claim Paris Saint Germain are trying to hijack Chelsea’s move for Sandro.
Conte has told owner Roman Abramovich he needs at least four players added to his title winning squad if he is to mount a serious challenge for the Champions League.
The Italian boss is also chasing a top class defender and world class striker.
Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci is also on Conte’s wishlist, with Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk another option if he fails to land the Italy star.
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And Chelsea are still hoping to push through a deal to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton, who are demanding around £80m for the Belgian striker.
Chelsea believe they can persuade Everton to lower the price to £70m, and are hopeful of pushing through that deal within the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois’ agent has turned the screw on the Blues by revealing he is “regularly” in contact with Real Madrid.
Belgian international Courtois is in a contract stand-off with the Champions as the goalkeeper looks to double his £100,000-a-week salary.
Now his representatives are applying the pressure by hinting at a possible move back to the Spanish capital.
In an interview in Belgium, the keeper’s agent Christophe Henrotay claimed: “Of course Thibaut is of interest to the big clubs, including the latest Champions League winner.
Tiemoue Bakayoko factfile
- Bakayoko, 22, was born in Paris on August 17 1994.
- He started played for Parisien side Paris 15eme O when he was just five
- Four years later, aged nine, he moved to another local team CA Paris Charenton and then on the Montrogue FC 92.
- He moved to Rennes in 2008 to join their academy when he was just 13.
- Bakayoko made 24 appearances for Rennes in midfield before being sold to Monaco in 2014 for £7million.
- He has played 92 games for Monaco in three seasons giving him 120 first-team appearances in total.
- Bakayoko earned his first France cap in March after coming on for Adrien Rabiot during a 2-0 defeat to Spain.
- He was the man who knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League with his header making it 6-6 on aggregate.
“He’s someone who helps you to win games and titles. I regularly meet with those in charge at Real Madrid and Thibaut’s case has come up. My job is to keep him updated on the situation.”
Those comments have not gone down well with Chelsea, where Courtois still has two years of his contract to run.
The club are keen to reward the 25-year-old keeper with an extended contract after helping them to win the Premier League title twice in the last three years but Courtois has put all talks on hold.
Dutch defender Nathan Ake does look on his way out of Stamford Bridge, however, with Bournemouth tying up the final details of a £20m move.
Ake, who spent the first half of last season on loan with The Cherries, will move to the south coast on a permanent basis after agreeing a five-year contract.