Chelsea transfer news and rumours: Blues face Graziano Pelle competition; Alvaro Morata bid considered

Today's biggest transfer stories and rumours to emerge from Stamford Bridge

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly been made aware that Everton plan to hijack his attempts to sign Italy striker Graziano Pelle from under his nose.

The 30-year-old has proven invaluable to Conte at the European Championship in France this summer and the Italian wants to take the Southampton forward to Stamford Bridge.

But, according to the Liverpool Echo, Ronald Koeman is optimistic that he will be able to entice Pelle to the Merseyside after the pair worked together during their time at Feyenoord.

It has also been suggested that an offer has been submitted from China but, without the lure of Champions League football, Conte may struggle to secure the signings he needs to restore the Blues to the top table of European football.

Another striker to attract Chelsea’s interest, according to the Evening Standard, is Real Madrid hotshot Alvaro Morata. The Spaniard returned to Real Madrid this summer, from Juventus, after the European champions utilised a £23m buy-back clause in his contract.

Real president Florentino Perez has no intention of keeping Morata, however, and would be prepared to sell him on for profit. Arsenal remain in pole position but Arsene Wenger is aware of interest from elsewhere, not least from some of their biggest Premier League rivals. It is said that £57m would be enough to secure the striker’s signature.

Meanwhile, the Blues are said to be closing in on the £34m signing of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly. The relationship between the Senegalese centre-half and the Serie A side is alleged to have turned sour due to contractual issues that arose towards the end of the season in Italy.

Having failed to reach agreement over a new contract with Napoli, the 25-year-old is now in the process of securing a lucrative severance package before confirming the Chelsea transfer, according to the Daily Mirror.