Antonio Conte bidding to beat Atletico Madrid to Andrea Belotti’s signature

Chelsea reportedly face stiff from Atletico Madrid in a bid to sign Italy international striker Andrea Belotti, according to journalist Matteo Pedrosi.

The Premier League champions, who defeated Watford 4-3 at Stamford Bridge on Monday night to secure their fifth straight top-flight victory, have been linked with the prolific Torino forward ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

The 23-year-old, who has seven international caps for his country, has impressively scored 27 goals and provided six assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A outfit so far this season.

Belotti, who joined Torino back in August 2015 from fellow Italian club Palermo, was also subject to interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion.

Andrea Belotti.

Simeone is ready to go to war with Conte in the battle to sign Andrea Belotti. Torino striker is seen as the main alternative to Diego Costa pic.twitter.com/IWd5k8I3PI

— Matteo Pedrosi (@MatteoPedrosi) May 16, 2017

But Calciomercato reporter Pedrosi tweeted, “[Diego] Simeone [Atletico manager] is ready to go to war with [Antonio] Conte [Chelsea boss] in the battle to sign Andrea Belotti. Torino striker is seen as the main alternative to Diego Costa”.

Costa, 28, who has netted 21 times in all competitions this term for The Blues, has been linked with a summer switch to China.