Chelsea transfer news: Milan Skriniar, Christian Pulisic, Lucas Piazon, N’Golo Kante

Skriniar in Sarri’s sights

Chelsea are set to take on Manchester United in the battle to sign Inter Milan’s £70m-rated star Milan Skriniar.

The Sun reports that Blues boss Maurizio Sarri has added the 23-year-old Slovakian defender to his January shopping list “as he draws up plans to bolster his team’s back four”.

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United manager Jose Mourinho is also believed to have sent his spies to Italy to check out the blocker, but that isn’t deterring Sarri. According to the newspaper, the Blues chief is “keen to raid his homeland and pinch one of Italian football’s finest centre halves”.

Although David Luiz is enjoying a second wind this season, Sarri feels that Gary Cahill (who is expected to be loaned out in the new year) and Andreas Christensen aren’t up to the job, and is looking to bring in reinforcements.

Chelsea pursuing Pulisic

Chelsea have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals in the race for Christian Pulisic, reports the Daily Express, but the club still have a long way to go in their battle to land the American ace.

Currently impressing for Borussia Dortmund, the 20-year-old Pulisic is as one of the Bundesliga’s “brightest prospects”, the newspaper says.

Although Liverpool have long been linked to the winger, and Manchester United have also expressed an interest, Sports Illustrated claims that Chelsea have “emerged as the top contender in England for Pulisic”.

Chelsea boss Sarri is reportedly a big admirer of the young American, and Blues owner Roman Abramovich is “prepared to give the Italian funds in order to sustain a title challenge”.

Top of Sarri’s wishlist is Pulisic, but the Express says that Dortmund chief Michael Zorc is determined to keep the American - which means the “amount of money Chelsea can offer Dortmund in the summer may be inconsequential”.

Piazon not wanted

Brazilian club Corinthians have shot down rumours that they could be ready to make a move for Lucas Piazon.

Described by talkSPORT as a “Chelsea outcast”, the 24-year-old forward has failed to make the grade at Stamford Bridge and has spent much of his six-year stint on loan.

It had been believed he could be on his way home to South America in January, but Brazilian media is reporting that Corinthians president Andres Sanchez has said his side no interest in Piazon.

Kante to sign new Blues deal

French World Cup-winning midfielder N’Golo Kante is close to signing a new contract at Chelsea worth £300,000-a-week.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the 27-year-old is happy with the terms of the new five-year deal.