Antonio Conte 'willing to pay £100m for striker Romelu Lukaku'

Antonio Conte has reportedly told Chelsea chiefs to do whatever it takes to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton, even if it means handing over a nine-figure sum.

The Belgium international is expected to leave Goodison Park this summer after declaring his intention to join a club with ambitions of regularly challenging for silverware.

Everton are said to be standing firm on their £100m valuation of the 24-year-old, knowing that Manchester United are also interested and themselves willing to spend big.

According to The Telegraph, Conte is close to wrapping up moves for midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and defenders Antonio Rudiger and Alex Sandro, with a striker his next big priority.

Conte has already informed last season's top scorer Diego Costa that he can depart in the coming weeks, leaving the defending Premier League champions desperate to recruit a replacement ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

It is suggested that Lukaku is the only man Chelsea want, rather than also looking to recruit Alvaro Morata and Andrea Belotti, and they are willing to pay whatever it takes to sign him.