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Chelsea target Virgil van Dijk, Antonio Candreva, Alex Sandro, Fernando Llorente

By Kaveh Solhekol

Tuesday 25 July 2017 18:43, UK

van Dijk, Sandro, Llorente and Candreva
Image: Chelsea want Virgil van Dijk, Alex Sandro, Fernando Llorente, Antonio Candreva

Chelsea are targeting four big-name transfers in Virgil van Dijk, Antonio Candreva, Fernando Llorente and Alex Sandro.

The Blues have spent £140m on Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger this summer and Antonio Conte is determined to bring in more re-enforcements for the Premier League champions.

Netherlands centre-back Van Dijk remains both the wishlists of both Chelsea and Manchester City despite Southampton maintaining their stance that he is not for sale.

Virgil van Dijk of Southampton
Image: Chelsea and Man City still have Virgil van Dijk on their summer wishlists

Van Dijk wants to sign for Liverpool, who attempted to take him to Anfield earlier in the summer but were forced to drop their interest after Saints reported them to the Premier League for an alleged illegal approach.

Conte has been chasing Juventus left-back Sandro all summer and will have to offer around £60m to have any chance of signing the Brazilian - something that would break the record for a defender once again this summer.

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Inter Milan's Italian midfielder Antonio Candreva celebrates after scoring against Southampton
Image: Antonio Candreva worked with Antonio Conte in the Italian national team

Chelsea have already seen bids rejected by the Serie A champions, who are trying to get Sandro to sign a new contract, and general director Giuseppe Marotta said earlier this month that they do not want to sell any more of their best players after losing Leonardo Bonnucci to big-spending AC Milan.

Chelsea are also interested in re-signing left-back Ryan Bertrand from Southampton, as well as their right-back Cedric Soares.

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Alex Sandro of Juventus
Image: Alex Sandro has been a target for Chelsea all summer, with bids rejected

Conte also wants another striker option despite the huge £70m outlay on Morata from Real Madrid, with Diego Costa told he can leave Stamford Bridge and expected to return to Atletico Madrid.

Conte tried to sign Llorente from Swansea in January and they are trying to get the Spaniard again, with Conte having worked with him at Juventus during his three Serie A-title successes.

Fernando Llorente celebrates his winner against West Bromwich Albion
Image: Fernando Llorente was a star for Antonio Conte during his Serie A title triumphs

And Conte also likes right-winger Candreva having worked with him with the Italian national side. The Inter Milan star can play as a wing-back and Conte tried to sign him in January.

Now 30 years old, Candreva would not let him for less than £20m and the player's agent has said that there is an 80 per cent chance Candreva will remain at the San Siro.