Top target | Alex Sandro
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
Simon Johnson16 August 2017

Chelsea have not given up on signing Alex Sandro from Juventus this month but are still relying on the Brazil international handing in a transfer request.

It is believed Chelsea made another enquiry yesterday despite the Serie A club insisting he will not be sold.

Sandro is Antonio Conte first-choice to strengthen the left wing-back position but Chelsea have had bids of £52million and £61m turned down.

They are prepared to pay the 26-year-old in excess of £100,000 a week but Juventus, who do not want to lose another key player after selling Leonardo Bonucci to AC Milan, have offered a new contract worth £84,000 a week to persuade him to stay.

Significantly, Sandro has yet to agree to the fresh terms and Chelsea remain convinced that the player is keen to move to Stamford Bridge.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said there was “no chance” Sandro would be sold to Chelsea this summer.

However, the Italian champions are in discussions with Atalanta to cut short the two-year loan of Leonardo Spinazzola, who plays in Sandro’s position, 12 months early.

Chelsea are working on a number of deals ahead of the August 31 deadline. They are in talks with Arsenal over a £35m deal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and are expected to try again for Danny Drinkwater after Leicester rejected a £20m bid last week.

Chelsea still remain interested in Virgil van Dijk should Southampton decide to sell the centre-half.

Wing-backs Joao Cancelo and Serge Aurier are also being monitored, while reports in Spain continue suggest that they are one of a few top European clubs willing to meet the £36.4m release clause in the contract of Barcelona's 25-year-old midfielder Sergi Roberto.