Chelsea transfer news LIVE: Sarri's £140m spree, Morata doubt, Fabregas cryptic hint

CHELSEA TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: Latest gossip from the Blues.

Friday June 22

Sarri’s £140m spree

08:40: Maurizio Sarri has drawn up a £140 million hit list of targets in a massive shake up of the Chelsea squad this summer.

he chain smoking Italian is poised to be named as the new Chelsea manager once contract negotiations with his former club Napoli, where he has already been replaced by Carlo Ancelotti, have been sorted out - and once current boss Antonio Conte has been sacked.

Sarri's agents are in London this week for talks and the deal is set to be completed in the next few days.

Sarri though is poised to go back and raid his old club for at least two players, with Napoli striker Dries Mertens, who would cost around £28m top of the list of strikers he wants, Chelsea having cooled their interest in Juventus hit man Gonzalo Higuain due to a £60m price tag.

Sarri also wants Napoli right back Elseid Hysaj, who would cost around £23m, Juventus centre back Daniele Rugani, at around £20m, Inter Milan's Uruguayan midfielder Matias Vecino at £19m, Nice midfielder Jean Seri for £28m, and maybe even Napoli winger Jose Maria Callejon - although last night they looked set to miss out to AC Milan on that move.

Daniele Rugani deal close

06:30: Chelsea are close to agreeing a fee with Juventus for centre-back Daniele Rugani, according to reports in Italy.

Express Sport understands that the Italian is a high priority on the shopping list of incoming manager Maurizio Sarri, who is set to replace Antonio Conte in the coming weeks.

And it is claimed by TV channel SportItalia that the Blues will look to bring in the defender with an offer in the region of €35million (£30.7m).

The highly-rated 23-year-old is already thought to have been offered, and agreed, a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge that would net him around €3.5m (£3m) a season - equivalent to just over £50,000-a-week.

Sarri had tried to sign Rugani from Juventus while at Napoli, having worked with the Italy international as a loanee in two seasons at Empoli in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Alvaro Morata doubt

05:30: Borussia Dortmund have set their sights on trying to sign Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata, according to reports.

Morata, who is valued at around £60million, has piqued the interest of Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, with the latter looking to throw in Gianluigi Donnarumma as bait to try and persaude the Blues to come to the negotiating table.

Express Sport understands Maurizio Sarri has drawn up a £140m hit list of targets should he take over.

And according to German paper Bild, Dortmund want to nab Morata.

However, the report suggests his price-tag could make a potential move prohibitive.

It is said Dortmund have a Plan B in mind and could turn their attentions instead to Werder Bremen’s Max Kruse, who would likely be significantly cheaper.

Cesc Fabregas hint

04:30: Cesc Fabregas put some Chelsea fans on tenterhooks in the early hours of this morning.

Fabregas, who wasn’t included in Spain’s World Cup squad, travelled with the BBC for their live coverage of international football’s greatest tournament in Russia as part of their commentary team.

The midfielder is entering the final year of his contract with the Blues and there has been no discussions over a new deal.

And the 31-year-old took to Twitter at 3am to pose a question to fans.

He wrote: “Can you guys keep a secret?”