Alex Sandro to Chelsea: What we know so far

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Standard Sport29 June 2017

Antonio Conte's transfer window is taking shape, with Juventus star Alex Sandro at the heart of his plans for Chelsea.

Chelsea are on course to sign Sandro for a club-record £61million after the left-back told Juve he wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

The Serie A champions have offered a new deal to convince the Brazil international to stay, but can't match the wages that Chelsea are prepared to pay.

Here's everything we know so far courtesy of Simon Johnson...

Is the deal close?

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Juve want to keep the Brazilian, but the Bianconeri have started to look for potential replacements in the expectation that Sandro will be a Chelsea player before the summer is over.

The Italian champions' general director Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed the club have received a "substantial offer" and will not keep the 26-year-old against his will, but have already turned down £52m with Chelsea set to pay a world-record £61m for a defender.

What is Chelsea’s budget?

The players on Chelsea’s transfer shortlist

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Standard Sport reported in March that Conte had been handed significant funds for four key additions to his title-winning squad, though the coach's demands have since risen to six new faces.

Chelsea are set to spend £35.1m on Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and anything from £70m to £100m on top striking target Romelu Lukaku, so a £61m fee suggests Sandro holds great significance in Conte's plans for next season.

How much does Antonio Conte want him?

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Conte is desperate to sign Sandro to strengthen the left wing-back position, even though Marcos Alonso played a major role in the club winning the Premier League title last term.

Sandro's arrival could push Nathan Ake towards the exit door with the defender potentially set for a £20m move to Bournemouth, so Conte is willing to sacrifice a young talent and the happiness of a dependable starter to make space for the Juve star.

How much will Sandro earn?

Juventus have offered a new deal to convince the Brazil international to stay, but can't match the £150,000-a-week wages - double his current deal in Italy - that Chelsea are prepared to pay.

Is he good enough?

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Sandro is the perfect player for Conte's 3-4-3, given that he stars on the left flank for Juve ahead of a three-man defence.

The Brazilian is gifted at both ends of the pitch, creating 92 chances in Serie A during the last two seasons - more than any other defender in the Italian top flight.

He is also one of only two defenders in Serie A to make over three assists in each of the last campaigns.

Sandro also has the tactical and technical ability without the ball, making 281 recovering challenges and 102 interceptions since the start of the 2015-16 season - bettered only by Juventus team-mate Leonardo Bonucci, who is, unsurprisingly, another Chelsea target.

While Alonso has proved a reliable - and at times match-winning - signing for Conte, there is no doubt that a player like Sandro will take Chelsea onto the next level of trying to realise their Champions League dreams.

What does it mean for Marcos Alonso?

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The Spaniard could not have done much more to convince Conte after a stellar debut season with Chelsea.

The former Bolton player scored a creditable six Premier League goals - becoming a fearsome free-kick taker - and set up three more, while also putting in the hard yards to cover Eden Hazard on the left flank.

Sandro's price tag will likely make him automatic first choice for Conte, but Alonso will have plenty of chances to impress with Champions League football and cup competitions piling up for Chelsea next season after a relatively straightforward 2016-17 campaign.

Conte has also shown with the likes of Victor Moses and Cesc Fabregas that he is not adverse to handing players an opportunity or a second chance if they impress him, so nothing is assured for Sandro if he does not immediately justify his price tag.

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