Blue with rage

> ‘Livid’ Conte demands talks with board as Bridge power struggle escalates <

ANTONIO CONTE will return to Chelsea today and immediately seek showdown talks with the club after they failed to re-sign Romelu Lukaku.

It was revealed last night that Conte’s top summer target Lukaku completed a £75 million (RM413m) switch to Manchester United after passing a medical in Los Angeles.

Lukaku was the subject of a late bid from Chelsea, who matched United’s offer.

The Belgian striker was arrested in Los Angeles last week following a noise complaint and will appear in a US court on Oct 2.

Conte is said to be “livid” that Chelsea lost Lukaku to United boss Jose Mourinho.

It has been claimed in his native Italy that he is considering his future.

He has still not signed the new contract he was offered earlier in the summer.

The reports have been dismissed as mischiefmaking emanating from Italian clubs who would love to have Conte as manager.

But he has been unhappy at Chelsea’s failure to sign the players he wants. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is desperate for Conte to stay at the club.

It was hoped the former Italy head coach could have signed the new deal put to him by the Russian billionaire. But Conte is thought to be frustrated by the lack of progress being made on a number of signings at Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku was earmarked as a replacement for Diego Costa, who was told via text message from Conte himself that he would be sold this summer.

Chelsea are in need of a new centre-forward and are also eyeing defensive and midfield recruits.

They were confident of landing Lukaku, whom they sold to Everton in a £28 million (RM154m) deal three years ago.

But United’s success in signing the Belgium international means Conte’s staff must now look elsewhere for a goalscorer.

However, an alternative view is that Chelsea have allowed Lukaku to join United because Conte didn’t really want him.

The manager is embroiled in a power struggle with Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo and it was the latter who had pushed for Lukaku, not the Italian, according to journalist and Blues expert Dan Levene.

The champions’ boss and his future have been the subject of serious questions in recent weeks.

But Levene says the decision not to sign Lukaku, who seemed nailed on to join Chelsea, is proof Conte is now being backed by owner Roman Abramovich.

He tweeted: “Sorry to disrupt the consensus of woe, but Lukaku (is) Emenalo’s choice. Not Conte’s. Want evidence of the boss being backed? You just got it.”

The other party whose nose has been put out of joint in this saga has been Alvaro Morata who is desperate to leave Real Madrid and, like Lukaku, has been linked with Chelsea and United.

In fact, the Spanish striker thought he was heading for the Bridge well before last season ended and was surprised a move wasn’t followed through.

According to Spanish football expert Sid Lowe, Conte is a great admirer of Morata.

“He’s tried to bring him in twice and without working with him either time. Brought him in at Juventus then moved on. Tried to bring him to Chelsea last summer and it didn’t happen.” – The Independent/Daily Star