Chelsea are braced for a crucial month ahead in the market, as the Blues look to fend off widespread interest in a number of their star players.
Maurizio Sarri has just one week to finalise deals for new arrivals at Stamford Bridge but will be forced to battle under the end of August to retain the services of the likes of N’Golo Kante, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois.
The close of the European window at the end of August means that Chelsea risk losing those players without being able to sign replacements, although the Blues are hopeful of persuading two of the trio to stay at the club.
According to The Evening Standard, Chelsea are hopeful that a club-record £290k-a-week deal offer to Kante will persuade the France World Cup winner to snub the advances of Paris Saint-Germain and also hope it will show a statement of intent to Hazard.
Belgium international Hazard has been widely reported to be Real Madrid’s preferred target to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo, who left to join Juventus last month.
