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Chelsea Complete Transfer For Roma Defender Antonio Rudiger As Alex Sandro Gets Set To Snub Blues

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Premier League Champions Chelsea have now completed a £30million move for Roma defender Antonio Rudiger, according to FootTheBall sources.

Conte means serious business this summer as he is determined to bolster his squad as they return to European football and also to defend the Premier League title in the upcoming season.

Foottheball sources had earlier revealed that the Blues hierarchy are geared up to support Conte by handing him a £250million transfer warchest this summer.

Chelsea were set to make Juventus star Alex Sandro the world’s most expensive defender as they prepare a £100million double deal.

The Blues hierarchy were on the brink of agreeing a transfer fee with Serie A champions Juventus over a move for Brazilian left-back Sandro, following an increased offer of over £61m.

Chelsea are also on the verge of signing Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, who has completed a medical before signing a £37m deal with the Blues.

The Blues had been linked with a £100m move for Juventus pair Leonardo Bonucci and Alex Sandro.

The Blues boss is also trying to land Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci to Stamford Bridge this summer. He had enjoyed a successful spell with the Italian defender during his incredible stint at Juventus – lifting three consecutive Serie A titles.

And Conte is confident that he can convince his former player to make a switch to the Premier League this summer.

But FootTheBall sources claim that Conte have now shifted his attention to the German defender as Sandro is set to turn down Chelsea’s offer to sign a new £93,000-a-week deal at Juventus.

AS Roma defender Kostas Manolas’ expected move to Zenit St Petersburg broke down and this will help Chelsea to finalise a deal with the Serie A side for the signatures of Antonio Rudiger.

Manolas failed to appear for a medical with the Russian club.

Roma had agreed in principle with Roberto Mancini’s club over a £30m deal for Manolas, but the Greek defender failed to turn up for the medical.

Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol tweeted: “Chelsea in talks with Roma for defender Antonio Rudiger.”

“Roma will let him go for £30m now that Manolas has turned down move to Zenit.”

Rudiger arrived at Roma from Stuttgart in 2015 and can play as a centre-back or a full-back.

He has 16 caps for Die Mannschaft and represented the country at every level from the Under-18s.

He has earned 16 appearances for the German national side and also represented his country in the Under-18s circuit.

Rudiger has featured in Joachim Low’s German side in the Confederations Cup, where they will lock horns with Chile in the final clash on Sunday.

His current contract with Roma is due to expire in 2020.

Chelsea have been also linked with a £60m bid for 25-year-old Dutch defender Van Dijk.

Chelsea want to land the Dutchman and this has set the panic alarm for new Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino. Although it is believed that the Blues would have to shell out more than what they were ready to spend on Sandro to secure the services of Van Dijk.

Earlier, the Saints had accused Liverpool of tapping up their defender which forced the Reds to apologise and cool down their interest in the Dutchman.

Sources now reveal that Van Dijk still has five years left on his current contract and the Saints are not willing to sell him this summer, and this could force Chelsea to launch a tempting bid of £70m to make them change their mind.

Conte is also looking to bring back Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge and this might see them spending £75m on the Belgian – taking his summer spending spree to around £250m.

Anirban Das
Anirban Das's journey to Delhi via Kolkata involves football, music, curiosity (which one day can kill the cat) and food. Following global football opens up an infinite space within him in both the conscious and subconscious self, away from the din and bustle of the madding crowd. Supports Manchester United & Barcelona

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