Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is set to be handed a £200million war-chest this summer, according to the Times.
The newspaper report that the Blues chief held talks with owner Roman Abramovich regarding his future at the club last week, and that their summer recruitment plan was at the top of the agenda.
Conte is understood to have grown frustrated at the lack of transfer activity from the club this summer following their Premier League title win, with just one agreement having been reached.
Experienced goalkeeper Willy Caballero is the only player within Conte’s lengthy wishlist to have agreed a move to the club, after his contract at rivals Manchester City expired.
But while several of their Premier League rivals press on with their own transfer business, Abramovich has met with Conte to discuss his frustrations, as well as a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
The positive talks look set to conclude with Conte being given the green light to launch a £200million spending spree this summer.
AS Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and Juventus full-back Alex Sandro, who both played in the Champions League last term, are “expected” to be the first new arrivals at the club in the next few weeks.
The Express, meanwhile, claim that Chelsea have offered a club-record £70million bid to sign Everton goalscorer Romelu Lukaku.
But the Times report also states that confidence is high that Conte will sign a new contract at the club when they return for pre-season training next month.
The Italian led the Blues to the Premier League title in his debut season at the club, and also secured a return to the Champions League after a one-year absence.
He had put pen-to-paper on a three-year-deal when he was appointed as manager of the London club, but the club are keen to hand him a new deal to end speculation over his potential departure.