Buying Davide Zappacosta to help reduce Victor Moses’ workload down the right-hand side, Antonio Conte was also keen over the summer to do the same down the left.
The top target for the role was Juventus’ Alex Sandro, and the Blues went all out with a €60m bid for the Brazilian, only to be met by a firm no from the Serie A champions.
Wanting a minimum of €70m to start talks, the Italian side never saw the money, and are now in the process of ensuring the 26-year-old doesn’t go anywhere anytime soon.
Corriere dello Sport on Thursday explain that a contract outline has already been established between the defender’s agent and Juventus’ board for a new five-year deal.
This would keep the Brazil international in Turin until the summer of 2022, allowing Max Allegri and co. to ask for far more money if interested clubs come knocking.
What’s even more annoying for Chelsea in all of this is that Alex Sandro’s new contract will see him earn less than what he would have earned had he moved to Stamford Bridge, meaning it’s more about the club than the money.
It seems Antonio Conte will have to move onto other targets in January/next summer if he is to find someone to challenge Marcos Alonso.
