Chelsea 25million bid for AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli rejected, the Italian club have verified.
The Blues are in the market for a brand new centre-half with John Terry and Gary Cahill the only fit, regarded avid gamers in that role presently on the books.
Kurt Zouma is targeting a September comeback from a serious knee harm, leaving educate Antonio Conte in need of numbers in the mean time.
Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly is an additional stated goal and Conte may choose to step up his interest within the Senegalese having been knocked back with the aid of Milan.
The Rossoneri introduced via their television channel they had rejected an offer "greater than the rate they paid Roma" for Romagnoli last year.
The 21-year-historical came by means of the ranks on the Stadio Olimpico before an excellent mortgage spell at Sampdoria within the 2014-15 season led to a transfer to San Siro.
Conte, speaking after Saturday's 2-1 win at Watford, highlighted the ought to toughen his squad previous to the closing of the switch window at the end of the month.
He said: "for those who seem now on the Chelsea squad you will see we've simplest four defenders, and these 4 defenders began today.
"[But] if [we have] one harm we're in predicament.
"The club and me we all know this and we are speaking daily to beef up the squad but we all know additionally that it can be very complicated in this market given that it's crazy.
"i don't need to buy simply to purchase, I want to purchase the right participant for Chelsea, for the reward, for the long run, with a excellent prospect. It can be foremost we've got a just right investment for the longer term."