Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa sit out Chelsea's pre-season tour of China as Manchester United and Juventus weigh up move for midfielder

  • Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is keen on a move for Nemanja Matic 
  • Manchester United are monitoring situation but Chelsea prefer move abroad 
  • Matic has been left off Blues squad list for their pre-season tour of Asia
  • Diego Costa is another player sitting out amid talks of a return to Atletico Madrid 

Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic will not take part in Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Asia as they try to complete transfers out of Stamford Bridge.

Costa did not report back for pre-season training this week and is thought to be still on holiday in Brazil having secured permission to extend his absence as talks continued over his proposed return to Atletico Madrid.

Matic has been at the Chelsea training ground in Surrey but has mostly trained alone. He has not been involved in Antonio Conte’s team sessions and seems certain to leave the champions as Tiemoue Bakayoko arrives. 


Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is wanted by Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic is wanted by Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri

Diego Costa did not report back for pre-season having secured permission to extend absence

Diego Costa did not report back for pre-season having secured permission to extend absence

Juventus, who tried to sign the Serbia midfielder last year, have revived their interest and manager Conte would prefer to see him sold to the Serie A side rather than to Manchester United, who are also interested.

Matic had been very keen on a move to Old Trafford to be reunited with former boss Jose Mourinho but relations between the Premier League rivals have cooled since United hijacked Chelsea’s deal to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton.

Inter Milan enquired about Matic but decided the fee was too high for a player with a similar skill-set to Geoffrey Kondogbia, who is already part of their squad.

Conte will hope the interest from Juventus is quickly followed by a firm offer after the Italian champions agreed to sell defensive stalwart Leonardo Bonucci to rivals AC Milan for £35million. 

Matic could be wearing the red of United next season but Chelsea would rather sell abroad

Matic could be wearing the red of United next season but Chelsea would rather sell abroad

Chelsea want Juve left back Alex Sandro. They have been put off by his £61m valuation but any negotiations over Matic can bring the two clubs closer to agreeing on a fee.

Conte is short of fit and available central midfielders as his squad prepare to fly off on tour for games in China and Singapore against Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Inter.

Nathaniel Chalobah has joined Watford for £6m, leaving N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas as the only two established first-team squad members in a position to play.

Bakayoko, identified by Conte as an upgrade on Matic, was in London on Friday for a medical after Chelsea struck a deal with Monaco worth £40m plus add-ons.

The 22-year-old France midfielder is still recovering from a keyhole knee operation at the end of last season and he may not be fully match-fit for the start of Chelsea’s title defence.

Alex Sandro is another target for Chelsea but they have been put off by his £61m valuation

Alex Sandro is another target for Chelsea but they have been put off by his £61m valuation

Conte is yet to reveal whether Bakayoko will go with the squad on tour when he signs or stay behind in London to work on fitness and rehabilitation.

Eden Hazard, who broke an ankle in training with Belgium last month, has his foot out of the protective cast but is expected to stay behind and focus on his recovery. Hazard was initially ruled out for three months.

Centre back Kurt Zouma will not travel in the hope of finalising a loan move to Stoke.

Teenage defender Jake Clarke-Salter, who spent last season on loan at Bristol Rovers, has signed a new four-year deal at Chelsea.

A host of Championship clubs have been vying to take 19-year-old Clarke-Salter on loan for the new season. They include Norwich, Queen’s Park Rangers, Preston, Leeds and Hull. 

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