Chelsea have failed with an £85 million bid for Torino striker Andrea Belotti, according to reports in Italy.
Tuttosport claim that the Premier League leaders have offered £51m up front along with another £34m in add-ons related to appearances, goals, Champions League qualification and trophies.
But Torino have rejected Chelsea’s approach and are instead holding out for a club who are willing to pay the Italy international’s £85m release clause in full.
Belotti is reportedly high on Antonio Conte’s summer shortlist as the Italian looks to bolster his attacking options ahead of Chelsea’s campaign in the Champions League next season.
The 23-year-old has been in sublime form for Torino this season and is joint-top scorer in Serie A with 24 goals in 28 appearances so far.
‘I don’t think anybody is going to come along and offer us €100m for him right now, though, so I think it is better for him and for us that he stays here another year,’ Torino president Urbano Cairo told RAI Radio 1 earlier this week.
‘I’ve read that he would be happy to stay and I’ll have a word with him. I think he needs to consolidate and have another great season and then go to the World Cup in really high spirits, and then we will see.
‘I would keep him here for life, but I’m obliged to let him go if somebody from abroad offers €100m. Then it would be down to him – he could even say no, but I have a splendid relationship with Andrea and I think we can still go a long way together.’
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