WHY ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
Antonio Conte is 'fuming' about Chelsea missing out on Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgium international was his top transfer target to replace Diego Costa, who is no longer part of his plans.
But it appears as if rivals Manchester United are going to beat the Blues to his signature with the player undergoing a medical ahead of a £75m move.
And The Daily Mirror say this latest transfer blow raises serious questions about his future at Stamford Br Chelsea could reportedly turn their attentions to Christian Benteke as they look at alternative options up front.
Folowing the recent blow of Romelu Lukaku going to Manchester United, Crystal Palace frontman Benteke has emerged as a shock target for the Blues.
According to The Telegraph, Antonio Conte is a fan of Lukaku’s Belgium team-mate.
Despite his failed spell at Liverpool, Benteke could be signed by Chelsea as support to somebody with greater pedigree.
Conte is interested and may look to now bring in Benteke and a marquee striker with Diego Costa going and Lukaku hopes all but over.
Thursday July 6
23:45: Chelsea's summer transfer failings have left Antonio Conte's future in doubt, reports claim.
According to the Mirror, the Blues boss is furious, with Chelsea missing out on Romelu Lukaku, struggling over deals for Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alex Sandro.
And Chelsea has also failed in moves for key targets Alexis Sanchez and Virgil van Dijk.
Conte was particularly desperate to sign Lukaku from Everton, but Manchester United are set to pip them.
22:45: Romelu Lukaku is set to undergo a medical in Los Angeles ahead of his move to Manchester United.
United and Everton are said to have already agreed a £75million transfer fee for the Belgium international.
And they have also agreed personal terms on a £250,000-a-week five-year deal, with his medical expected to happen in LA in the coming days.
22:00: Chelsea are tracking Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, according to reports.
Website TransferMarketWeb claim the Frenchman is attracting interest from a host of European clubs, including Villarreal, Napoli, Valencia and the Blues.
Areola was in and out of the PSG first team last season, battling for the No 1 jersey with German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
The Blues' interest in the PSG man is reportedly for long-term reasons with the future of Thibaut Courtois uncertain.
18.30: Chelsea could switch their attention to Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez after missing out on Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United.
The Telegraph claim Antonio Conte has had to reconsider which striker to sign this summer, with Sanchez and Alvaro Morata the two most likely candidates.
The Blues attempted to sign Morata from Real Madrid last summer with no success and the Gunners are unlikely to sell Sanchez to a Premier League title rival.
17:00: Diego Costa has reportedly begun to say goodbye to his Chelsea team-mates.
According to the Telegraph, Costa has already started preparing for his Chelsea departure by telling team-mates he expects to join Atletico.
Reports in Spain on Wednesday suggested a deal was imminent but they are yet to reach an agreement with Chelsea.
14:50: Chelsea are reportedly ready to offer £53million (€60m) for Real Madrid ace James Rodriguez.
Spanish publication Don Balon claim the Blues are prepared to stump up the required fee to secure his signature and pip Manchester United in the race to land him.
But Chelsea may struggle to win over Rodriguez because the 25-year-old has his heart set on a switch to Old Trafford.
The former Monaco man's agent Jorge Mendes is said to be pushing hard in sealing a move for his client with United his preferred choice.
13:35: Manchester United only dropped their pursuit of Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata when they realised Chelsea hadn't wrapped up a deal for Romelu Lukaku.
The Manchester Evening News claim Lukaku was in fact Mourinho's main target all along.
And over the last fortnight it became apparent that Lukaku wasn't heading to Chelsea, leaving United to make their move.
It is claimed the recent developments on Lukaku's failed move to Chelsea has been the reason for talks stalling in Morata's proposed transfer.
United cooled their interest in the Spain international as they turned their focus to Lukaku.
12:40: The first set of Premier League matches to be broadcast on Sky Sports and BT Sport have been announced
12:00: Despite reports of Manchester United and Everton agreeing a fee of £75m for Romelu Lukaku the Belgian still wants to join Chelsea.
United bosses have ended their pursuit of Alvaro Morata and performed a sensational transfer coup over Chelsea.
The Blues thought they had a deal for the forward wrapped up but United have tried to gatecrash it.
However, Express Sport understand the move is yet to be finalised.
Sources close to the player have this morning insisted Lukaku STILL would prefer to join Chelsea.
GETTY
09:00: Chelsea have made a £22million offer for Real Madrid ace Danilo, according to Spanish publication Don Balon.
Juventus are also said to be keen on signing the 25-year-old defender and their initial £17.5m bid was swiftly rejected by Los Blancos.
The report claims Madrid president Florentino Perez wants to recover most of the £28m they paid to sign him from Porto in 2015.
07:15: Meanwhile, away from Chelsea transfer news...
David Luiz is in the running to succeed John Terry as club captain.
Gary Cahill was thought to be a shoe-in for the honour.
But the Daily Mail claim it could go to Luiz instead, after the Brazilian starred last season.
03:55: Chelsea are reportedly renewing their interest in Swansea striker Fernando Llorente.
Antonio Conte looked to reunite with the former Juventus star back in January, but the 32-year-old stayed at the Liberty Stadium.
Chelsea appear to still be keen on signing the experienced Spaniard, though.
According to The Times, the Blues have revived their interest, with Llorente seen as a potential back-up for next season.
Swansea are determined to keep Llorente, who is still recovering from a broken arm.
02:30: Nemanja Matic's proposed move to Manchester United could be called off.
Chelsea's impending signing of Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is said to be playing a big role in Matic's future.
And according to The Sun, Jose Mourinho will end his interest if a deal is not done soon.
Mourinho wants to hear back from his former club within 48 hours.
However, the Daily Mail claim United remain quietly confident they can land Matic, with Chelsea close to landing Bakayoko.
02:00: Manchester United are reportedly set to hijack Chelsea's long-standing move for Romelu Lukaku.
Everton's hitman has been heavily linked with a return to Stamford Bridge, although the Blues have struggled to reach an agreement over a fee.
United have been pursuing a deal quietly while also trying to sign Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid.
And according to the Daily Mail, Lukaku could now join United instead of Chelsea for a world-record £100m
The Roma centre-half is edging close to joining Antonio Conte's side and will apparently cost £35m.
Despite undergoing a medical, it appears though that an announcement is not imminent.
01:00: Chelsea striker Diego Costa will complete his move to Atletico Madrid in the next few hours, according to Spanish journalist Manu Sainz.
Sainz wrote on Twitter: "In the next few hours will be official the signing of Diego Costa by Atletico."
Costa was reportedly informed via text message last month he would not be part of Antonio Conte's plans for the new season.
He has been linked with a big-money move to China but the 28-year-old's preference has always been to return to Atletico.
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