The Telegraph claim that Antonio Conte is targeting Leicester star Riyad Mahrez as he looks to rejuvenate his squad with more depth and the potential to play his preferred 4-2-4 formation. Arsenal are also interested in the Algerian and the Blues are tracking his situation after telling his current club that he wants to leave.
The Foxes are thought to be ready to demand £50 million for the 26-year-old but neither London club is prepared to pay such a price, and are instead hoping to negotiate a lower price with Mahrez forcing through a move to see him fight for a second Premier League winners’ medal.
In a surprising headline, the London Evening Standard report that Chelsea will not revive their interest in Southampton defender Virgil Van Dijk after he previously rejected the club for Liverpool, only for the Reds to withdraw after the Saints threatened to report the club to the Premier League for an illegal approach.
The Blues have now focused their efforts elsewhere and are clearly reluctant to go back to a player who made it clear that he has no interest in moving to Stamford Bridge.
However, one player who will almost certainly be on the move is striker Diego Costa, as he revealed on Wednesday night that he has no future at the club. He told the press, as quoted by BBC Sport:
“I’m a Chelsea player, but they do not want me there. Antonio Conte has told me by message that I do not follow at Chelsea and that’s it. Conte said he did not count on me for next season. My relationship with the coach has been bad this season. It’s a shame, I’ve already forwarded the message to Chelsea people to decide. You have to find a team.”
The striker could now make a summer exox, though his preferred destination is likely to be a return to Atlético Madrid which is complicated by the Spanish club’s transfer ban for the summer window.
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