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Chelsea lead race for €100m Andrea Belotti after Torino rule out selling to Serie A rivals

Manchester United were in talks but were not willing to meet the striker's release clause

Tuesday 11 July 2017 14:26 BST

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Chelsea: Where are the Blues going on their summer tour?

Torino have ruled out the possibility of selling Chelsea target Andrea Belotti to another Italian club and have revealed they will discuss the possibility of allowing him to leave.

The Independent broke the story that the Italy international was a key target for Manchester United at the start of the summer but the Old Trafford club were unable to agree a fee with the Serie A side, who were refusing to budge on Belotti’s €100m release clause.

That led to talks between the two sides breaking down, despite Belotti’s desire to move to the Premier League, with United instead signing Romelu Lukaku for £75m, which could eventually rise to a world-record fee.

How Chelsea could line up next season

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Chelsea thought they’d sealed Lukaku’s return to Stamford Bridge only for manager Antonio Conte to be left furious with how United were able to snatch him from under their noses, leaving the club desperately chasing other alternatives.

Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata, another United target, is one, with Belotti the other of only two realistically available strikers on the market at the moment.

And given Chelsea’s desperation to please Conte, who has quit jobs over a lack of transfer activity in the past, they could well be willing to pay the 23-year-old’s release clause.

But so far Torino are yet to receive a bid to trigger the move, although club president Urbano Cairo conceded they had had some “interesting options”.

“He has a €100m release clause. For now no-one has come in for him. I’m glad he’s with us and I hope he can stay.

“I want to understand his intentions, I’m happy for him to stay, not least because we’ve given up interesting options which didn’t reach the €100m clause.

“They weren’t real offers, but there were contacts. I don’t want to imagine a Toro without Il Gallo.

“Tonight I’ll have a meal with [coach Sinisa] Mihajlovic and [sporting director Gianluca] Petrachi, we’ll talk about everything and you understand we also have to think about this possibility.

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.

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“The clause is there, but we have to understand what he thinks because it’s important for a player to stay with the desire to do well. I want to talk to him, I want a confirmation.

“I don’t think it’s possible to sell in Italy, where there isn’t even the clause. Andrea is an extraordinary lad, he has undeniable qualities.”

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