Chelsea will push ahead with a move for Lazio striker Ciro Immobile in the January transfer window to placate boss Antonio Conte.
The Italian was furious with the club’s handling of the summer transfer window, which saw Chelsea miss out on the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fernando Llorente and Alex Sandro.
Alvaro Morata was brought in for a club record fee but the Blues have struggled in the Spaniard’s absence with injury in recent weeks and Conte wants more depth up front.
Immobile, 27, has 17 goals in 17 matches for club and country this season and has attracted interest from the far-east.
Lazio are believed to have rejected bids of £60m+ for Immobile from China but the Italian would push for a move to Stamford Bridge if Chelsea firmed up their interest, according to the Sun.
The Serie A giants trail league leaders Napoli by just three points and would ideally like to keep Immobile for the rest of the season but a bid of around £53m could see him move to west London.
Immobile’s arrival would go some way to appeasing Conte, who has been on collision course with the club’s board since the summer.
The Italian boss has had to dismiss reports that he will resign but rumours persist that his fractured relationship with the club’s hierarchy will see him walk away.
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