Chelsea considering £70 million swoop for Roma duo Nainggolan and Rudiger

Premier League leaders Chelsea are considering launching a £70 million swoop for AS Roma duo Radja Nainggolan and Antonio Rudiger, according to The Sun.

Antonio Conte’s Blues are on course for their fifth Premier League title in 12 years after seeing nearest challengers Tottenham lose 1-0 to West Ham on Monday night, leaving the West London outfit needing just two more wins to wrap up top spot.

Conte’s men will also be returning to the Champions League next season after a one-year absence, and with that campaign alongside a likely title defence, the Italian appears to already be turning his attentions to whom he could sign this summer.

And two names he is reportedly looking at are the Roma pair of Nainggolan and Rudiger, a double deal which could set Chelsea back £70 million.

24-year-old Rudiger has played all along the backline for the Italian giants this term, and so would give Conte some much-needed strength in the defensive department, certainly now that captain John Terry has confirmed that he’ll leave the club this summer.

And Belgian international Nianggolan is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe, and a return of ten goals and three assists in 34 Serie A appearances this term certainly backs that notion, and would thus give N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic some competition for one of the central midfield spots in Conte’s side.

Ultimately, the Chelsea side hasn’t been overly stretched this season and thus Conte has had the luxury of naming the same or similar team every week, yet that is unlikely to be the case next season so strengthening in all areas is essential, starting with the Roma duo of Nainggolan and Rudiger.