Chelsea up the stakes in bid for Brazilian star
soon to improve the squad for a Champions League assault next season and negotiations are being duly intensified.
An £80m deal for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku looks likely to have to wait, with the striker still on holiday, and not due back until July 1.
Alex Sandro impressed as Juventus won the Serie A title this year and reached the Champions League final, and is one of the players Conte is looking at to upgrade his side in several positions next season.
The Brazilian played 43 games for Juventus last season, scoring three goals and making five assists.
Bakayoko was one of the stars of the Monaco team who won Ligue 1 last term but his arrival does not automatically mean that Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic – a target for Manchester United – will leave.
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero is also set to move to Stamford Bridge on a free transfer that will be confirmed this week, as back-up to Belgian No 1 Thibaut Courtois.
Atletico Madrid are set to table a bid for Diego Costa to rejoin them in January.
Atletico will propose an initial fee of £26m – £6m less than Chelsea paid for the player in 2014. The club are currently under a transfer embargo but will be able to sign players in the winter window.