Chelsea see Alex Sandro offer rejected by Juventus as Antonio Conte continues to be frustrated in transfer market

Conte has been linked with a move for Juve’s Sandro with the Italian press suggesting last week the Serie A champions had turned down an offer worth as much as £58m

Saturday 17 June 2017 11:40 BST

Alex Sandro has been linked with a move to Chelsea (Getty)

Chelsea have seen a "very good" offer for Juventus' Alex Sandro rejected.

The Premier League title-winning Blues are in the market for reinforcements with Antonio Conte keen to bolster a squad that must contend with the added stresses of European football next term.

Conte has been linked with a move for Juve’s Sandro with the Italian press suggesting last week the Serie A champions had turned down an offer worth as much as £58m.

How Chelsea could line up next season

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And the club’s general director, Giuseppe Marotta, confirmed they have turned down interest from Stamford Bridge this summer.

"Our desire is to not sell any of our most important players," he told Corriere dello Sport. "We said no to a very good offer from Chelsea for Alex Sandro.

"But we know that we are competing with clubs that are in a position to offer wages that are not rational for us. And players are always their own boss. I do not know how Alex Sandro reacted."

Meanwhile, Chelsea are understood to be relaxed about stories indicating manager Conte is ready to walk away from the club.

The coach is reportedly frustrated at the lack of incoming transfers secured this summer, and is said to be holding off extending his contract until certain conditions are met.

Conte is currently on holiday, his first since agreeing to take over in the spring of 2016, and expected sporting director Michael Emenalo and transfer negotiator Marina Granovskaia to strengthen the squad in his absence.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

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1/8Chelsea summer transfer targets

Chelsea summer transfer targets

1. Franck Kessie, Atalanta

The first of many Serie A players on the list is Atalanta’s Franck Kessie, who scored six goals in 32 in the league from central midfield. The 20-year-old is subject of an offer from Roma, but it is thought that Conte sees the energetic Ivorian as a good option for the coming season and could intervene if the player decides to leave. A sum of just over £20m is expected to be enough to secure Kessie’s signature.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

2. Radja Nainggolan, AS Roma

Fiery midfielder Nainggolan was the target of a Chelsea bid last summer, and it is thought that Conte could prise him away from Italy this time around, as part of a double swoop with Antonio Rudiger at £70m. He is a player the former Juventus manager knows very well, and would fit perfectly into Chelsea’s side with his combative style. While Roma will be desperate to avoid letting two key players go in one hit, it may be difficult to turn down the right offer.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

3. Alex Sandro, Juventus

Sandro is emerging as one of Europe’s finest left backs and the Juventus man will be high on Conte’s list of targets. He is far more mobile than Marcos Alonso and would unlikely find it difficult adapting to Conte’s methods, which are largely similar to that of current Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri. The player is also being tracked by Manchester City, and could cost upwards of £40m.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

4. David Stockdale, Brighton

Asmir Begovic is likely to leave Stamford Bridge in search of regular first-team football, and David Stockdale is an option for Chelsea. The 31 year-old keeper is out of contract this summer and helped his current club secure promotion to the Premier League this season. However, his error in the final game gifted Aston Villa an equaliser and Newcastle top spot in the Championship, and Stockdale later posted on twitter that he was ‘gutted to go out like that’ and thanked Brighton’s fans and staff, adding fuel to the fire over the exit rumours.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

5. Ben Gibson, Middlesbrough

Gibson’s stellar performances have been widely recognised over the course of this season and the 24-year-old centre back has worked his way into the England set-up. He is in a similar mould to the departing Terry and Conte is supposedly a big admirer of the £30m rated Middlesbrough man.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

6. Andrea Belotti, Torino

Another forward linked to Chelsea is Andrea Belotti, who at 23 has his best years ahead of him. The €100m release clause, applicable only to clubs outside of Italy, which was negotiated into his contract by club president Urbano Cairo, makes a move seem increasingly unlikely; nonetheless, the Italian is at the very least on Chelsea’s radar this summer.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

7. Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is thought to be seeking a move away from the Emirates this season after the Gunners’ disappointing campaign. He has stalled over signing a new contract, and with his current deal expiring next summer, Chelsea’s London rivals are at serious risk of losing their star man. While Wenger has insisted Arsenal no longer have to sell their best players, it could become a difficult situation if Sanchez wishes to stay in the capital and tries to force a move to Chelsea. Considering his contract situation, £55m could be enough to acquire the Chilean, with Bayern Munich apparently ready to offer exactly that at the start of the window.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

7. Fernando Llorente, Swansea

Antonio Conte has worked with Llorente in the past at Juventus and is keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge, though faces competition from Spurs.

Getty

But while a number of signings are close - like that of Romelu Lukaku or Tiemoue Balayoko - there is an annoyance that thus far Chelsea haven't added to their squad.

The Italian believes that Chelsea will need to significantly strengthen if they are to defend their league title and, more importantly, challenge in the Champions League. Conte has never tasted European success as a coach but is incredibly driven to do so. He feels as if his stunning debut campaign in west London should be enough to show what he could do with greater resources.

But that is not to say he is on the brink of leaving and Chelsea insiders remain confident of getting their business done this summer.

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