Chelsea Identify £87m Alternative as Romelu Lukaku Close To Manchester United

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku was the top target of Antonio Conte this summer but Chelsea are set to miss out with the Belgian forward reportedly on his way to rivals Manchester United. However, the Blues have been swift to identify an alternative to Lukaku according to reports), who claim that the Blues manager Antonio Conte has now made Torino striker Andrea Belotti his top priority for the transfer window.

The 23-year-old Italian has a £87.6 million (€100 million) release clause in his contract and the Turin outfit have maintained that they will only allow their prized asset to leave if a club triggers his release clause.

Ever since the culmination of the 2016/17 season, the Stamford Bridge outfit have been heavily linked with a move for former striker Romelu Lukaku but earlier in the day, many English outlets, including the BBC and the Press Association all but confirmed that the Belgian is on his way to Old Trafford after Manchester United agreed a fee in the region of £75 million with the Goodison Park outfit for the services of the 24-year-old.

The news came as a shock to many as Chelsea were front-runners for the services of their former striker and Manchester United were heavily linked with a move for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.

Conte has now switched his focus from Lukaku to Belotti, who he feels is the perfect candidate to lead his line for seasons to come, the Blues will have to smash their transfer record for the capture of the Italian and they will probably end up paying more than what Manchester United are reportedly paying for the services of Lukaku. The report also adds that should the Blues fail in their pursuit of Belotti, they have already identified Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata as their back-up plan but will have to shell out in the range of £79 million for his services.