Chelsea’s £55m target Veratti wants Paris stay

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has already landed his first Premier League title but the Italian is not slowing down having already lifted the trophy.

The former Juventus boss, who also has an FA Cup Final clash with Arsenal to prepare for, is already plotting to bring further silverware to Stamford Bridge next season by bolstering his squad this summer.

According to reports from The Sun, the Blues have already lodged a club-record £55m bid for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, who worked under Conte in the Italy squad.

However, the 24-year-old, who has been compared to his compatriot Andrea Pirlo, has supposedly made it clear to his current club that his preference would be to stay put in the French capital.

The four-time French champion has been a mainstay of the French giants’ success in recent years, clocking up 200 appearances in his time at Parc des Princes.

Before Conte looks to push a deal any further, however, he must focus his attentions on finishing the season on an even higher note, with Sunderland to come at home before the Cup Final at Wembley.