Chelsea to battle Manchester United for PSG star Serge Aurier AND launch bid for Virgil van Dijk
CHELSEA will reportedly battle Manchester United for Paris Saint-Germain's Serge Aurier.
And they will also make a move for Southampton's wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk.
The Telegraph claim Blues boss Antonio Conte has been assured by the club's board that he will have at least three more new signings before the close of the transfer window.
Italian Conte, who watched his side lose to Arsenal on penalties in the Community Shield on Sunday, ideally wants to add two more wing-backs to his squad.
And he has now turned to £27million-rated United target Aurier after missing out on Danilo.
Van Dijk, who today handed in a transfer request to the Saints, was Chelsea's top defensive target after their triumphant Premier League-winning campaign.
They looked to have been beaten in the chase for the Dutchman by Liverpool earlier this summer.
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The race for Aurier is going to be more complicated.
Both clubs must wait to discover whether the Ivory Coast star successfully wins an appeal to be allowed back into the United Kingdom.
He was banned from entering these shores after being convicted of assault, following his arrest in May last year.
The controversial defender was found guilty of assaulting a police officer outside a nightclub in Paris after he was stopped to take a breath test.
It meant he was unable to travel to England for PSG’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in November.
Aurier has since appealed against the conviction and has a hearing scheduled for August 7 to determine whether or not his travel ban has been lifted.
Virgil van Dijk - 'better and quicker than Rio Ferdinand'
- Van Dijk was born in Breda, Holland, on July 8 1991.
- He grew up pretending to be Ronaldinho when he played street football.
- He spent a year with Willem II as a youth before moving to Groningen.
- After graduating from their academy in 2011 Van Dijk played 66 times for the Eredivisie club over three seasons, scoring seven times.
- Celtic gave Van Dijk his break in British football by moving in 2013 and the Dutchman quickly established himself in their first team.
- The 6ft 4ins defender's form saw Southampton make a move in 2015 and after 68 appearances in two seasons Champions League clubs are circling.
- Van Dijk's international career began in 2015 and he has since played 12 times for his country.
- Pundit Tony Cascarino described van Dijk as "even better and quicker than Rio Ferdinand".
PSG will allow Aurier to find another club following the arrival of Dani Alves on a free this summer.
United are looking for a new right-back to challenge Antonio Valencia and ultimately succeed him.
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