Chelsea are said to be considering a move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Veratti, as Antonio Conte looks to build a squad which can challenge for years to come at Stamford Bridge.
TheMirrorreport that the Blues are set to fight Manchester United for the services of the Italian midfielder, whose agent hinted recently that he could force through a move away from Ligue 1 in the summer - despite signing a new long-term deal in the off-season.
Marco Verratti: Has scored as many Ligue 1 goals this season (2) as he had in the last 4 seasons combined #PSGSRFC
Conte is expected to continue to reshuffle his pack at the end of the season, having arrived at the club late in the summer break after seeing out his Italy contract at Euro 2016.
Mikel John Obi is expected to leave at the end of his contract in 2017, while bigger names may follow him out of the door. Cesc Fabregas is one such name, having played less than 90 minutes of Premier League football all season as a mixture of form and injury problems keep him on the sidelines.
A thigh issue has kept the Spaniard out of Conte's recent matchday squads, but the former Arsenal star had still started just one of seven league games before the injury struck.
Fabregas' place at the Bridge was in doubt for much of the summer, and Veratti's agentDonato Di Campli only fuelledrumours that the Spaniard was set to be replaced when he said of his clientlast month: The contracts are made and unmade in three minutes.
We'll see PSG's aims, Marco is happy to be there, but he wants to win something important. He can not stay in a team that does not win.�
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