Conte to be backed by Chelsea in £150m defensive raid

 

Chelsea will continue to back head coach Antonio Conte in the transfer market and are prepared to sanction a £150m combined bid for Virgil van Dijk and Alex Sandro, of Southampton and Juventus respectively, reports the Daily Mirror. 

 

The Blues last week agreed a fee for the arrival of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid following on from the arrivals of Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko. 

 

Conte is keen to improve his centre-back options this summer after missing out on Leonardo Bonucci, with Van Dijk a top target for the Italian. 

 

Liverpool and Manchester City are also looking to sign the Dutchman from Southampton this window, though Saints value the defender at £70m. 

 

Sandro, meanwhile, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge for much of the summer, though his exit has stalled following Dani Alves and Bonucci’s respective Juventus exits. 

 

Conte to be backed by Chelsea in £150m defensive raid

 

Chelsea are now set to launch huge bids for the duo as they look to successfully defend their Premier League crown and make headway in the Champions League upon their return to the competition.