Chelsea Boss Antonio Conte seems to have his eyes on Atletico Madrid 22-year-old star Saul Niguez and is urging his club to offer up £71m in order to secure him, according to a report in Spain.
The young Spain midfielder has been with the La Liga giants since 2014, and has renewed his contract over the summer with a release clause worth £134m.
However, according to Spanish media outlet Don Balon, Atletico manager Diego Simeone is all but in favour of Niguez’s departure.
With the club going through a critical period of disappointing results, the Argentine boss is reportedly reluctant to see his men join other teams and abandon a sinking ship.
Confident that the player’s release clause will keep many potentially interested clubs away from signing him, Atletico chiefs have already claimed that he is not for sale.
Niguez, who has already provided one goal and one assist this season, is thought to be happy where he is now and has no intention to leave anytime soon.
However, Chelsea’s big money-spending summer has brought overseas the likes of Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Davide Zappacosta.
Antonio Conte has managed to splash around £200m to sign players during the transfer window, and is thought to be determined to secure Atletico’s ace.
Recent rumours would also have the reigning Premier League champions eyeing French Arsenal star Olivier Giroud ahead the January transfer window.
As Manchester City currently are at the top of the table, with a nine-point lead over Chelsea, Conte might need to seal some deals to keep his position safe.
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