Chelsea ‘turn attention to £90MILLION Andrea Belotti’ after Manchester United hijack Everton striker Romelu Lukaku
Blues want Torino star who netted 28 times for club last season
CHELSEA are chasing Torino striker Andrea Belotti after missing out on Romelu Lukaku, according to reports.
Manchester United have hijacked the Blues for the Everton striker and have agreed a £75million fee for the big Belgian.
As SunSport revealed today, Diego Costa is willing to clear the air with title-winning boss Antonio Conte, but the Blues continue to chase other strikers.
Torino striker Belotti, 23, is again linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, report the Daily Mirror.
The Italian international, who has four goals in nine caps for the Azzurri, enjoyed a stunning campaign last season.
He scored 26 goals and added seven assists in Serie A as Sinisa Mihajlovic's team finished ninth.
The Mirror claim that Belotti would cost a staggering £90MILLION to bring to west London.
Belotti, nicknamed the Rooster for his celebration, is a stocky, powerful striker who has drawn comparisons to Gianluca Vialli for his athleticism, technique and work rate.
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Andrea Belotti factfile
- Born December 20, 1993, in the small town of Calcinate in the northern province of Lombardy
- Earned his nickname Il Gallo (The Rooster) from a childhood friend who suggested he mimicked a rooster's comb on his forehead
- After an unsuccessful trial with Atalanta, joined AlbinoLeffe as a 13-year-old, eventually making his first-team debut in Serie B in 2011
- Moved on loan to Palermo in 2013, providing an assist to former Rangers and Norwich City striker Kyle Lafferty on his debut - helped Palermo to promotion in his first season but struggled for matches the next year
- Torino spent around £6m on him in August 2015. He scored 12 Serie A goals in his first season before his stunning 28-goal campaign last year
- Scored a seven minute hat-trick in January and also became the first player under 24 since Andriy Shevchenko in 2000 to score at least 24 Serie A goals
- Has been capped at U19, U20, U21 and senior level for Italy
Belotti is a strong dribbler, a hard worker and very good with the ball at his feet and in the air.
He is right-footed but comfortable shooting with both.
Conte will be back at Cobham on Sunday ahead of Chelsea's pre-season trip to the Far East.
The Italian boss is said to be fuming at having missed out on Lukaku to Blues predecessor Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea matched the bid for the Belgian, but Lukaku appears set on staying in the North West and joining great friend Paul Pogba at Old Trafford.
The pair have been partying in Los Angeles for the last week - with police even called to their rented mansion to deal with noise complaints.
Chelsea continue to be linked with other forwards, including Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez, wantaway Real Madrid man Alvaro Morata, and former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.
Fernando Llorente, who hit 15 Prem goals for Swansea last season, is a serious target, but the Blues know he would only fill a backup role.
But there could be a reconciliation between Conte and Costa.
The combative striker was dumped by text message last month and it appeared as if he had played his last game for the club.
But after Atletico Madrid's transfer ban kicked in - and Costa deciding he wanted to stay in Europe - Costa realises he has to be playing regular football to make it to the World Cup next summer.
