Antonio Conte 'to spend £140m on three players'

Romelu Lukaku celebrates Chris Smalling's equaliser during the FA Cup semi-final between Everton and Manchester United on April 23, 2016
© Getty Images
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is reportedly given up to £140m to splurge on three new players before the transfer window shuts.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly been given up to £140m to spend on three new players before the summer transfer window shuts in a fortnight.

According to a report in the Sunday Express, the Blues will step up their pursuit of their two main targets, Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, in the coming days.

Senegalese centre-back Koulibaly has been given a £50m price tag by the Serie A side, but with the player keen on a move to the Premier League this summer, Chelsea are said to be hopeful that an agreement can be reached.

Meanwhile, a bid of £42m for Lukaku was rejected by the Toffees last week but a new, improved offer is being prepared after the Belgian was left on the bench for Everton's Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Conte is also thought to be keen on signing up 19-year-old Santos midfielder Thiago Maia, who is currently playing for Brazil at the Rio Olympics and would be available for around £15m.

Chelsea have made only two senior signings so far this summer, bringing in N'Golo Kante from champions Leicester City and Marseille forward Michy Batshuayi.

Legia's Tomasz Jodlowiec (R), Michal Pazdan(L), Jakub Rzezniczak (2nd L) vie for the ball with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly during the UEFA Europa League first-leg Group D football match Legia Warszawa v SSC Napoli in Warsaw, Poland on October 1, 2015
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City33009369
2Chelsea33007259
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd33006159
4Everton32104227
5Hull City32014226
6Middlesbrough31203215
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs31203215
8Arsenal31116514
9Leicester CityLeicester31113304
10West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom31112204
11Liverpool311156-14
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham310235-23
13Burnley310224-23
14Swansea CitySwansea310224-23
15Southampton302124-22
16Sunderland301235-21
17Crystal Palace301213-21
18Watford301236-31
19Bournemouth301225-31
20Stoke CityStoke301226-41