OX CAN LAUNCH £120M SPREE

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH is ready to start a £120million Chelsea spending spree with a fresh move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Chelsea are determined to test Arsenal’s resolve to keep OxladeChamberlain (left) with a £35m bid and are also targeting Virgil van Dijk and Danny Drinkwater.

Blues owner Abramovich is prepared to back boss Antonio Conte after the club’s dismal start to the campaign. Their interest in OxladeChamberlain leaves Arsenal with a dilemma over whether to sell. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has publicly insisted the England midfielder is not for sale, despite having only a year left on his contract, and the Ox has made it clear he is not ready to sign a new deal.

Conte is closing in on Southampton defender Van Dijk.

Liverpool have also been in for the defender but Chelsea are ready to break the bank to get him. Chelsea have seen a £15m bid for Leicester midfielder Drinkwater (below) rejected and will make a much improved offer. They want Drinkwater to partner N’Golo Kante in a reprise of the double act which won the title for the Foxes. Chelsea expect to see movement on Drinkwater before Sunday’s Wembley showdown with Tottenham with Conte short of options after selling Nemanja Matic, while Cesc Fabregas is suspended.