Chelsea transfer news: Conte's ideal replacement identified, Blues in pole position to land Tottenham defender, and more - 31st March

Chelsea make Pochettino top target

As per Goal.com, if Antonio Conte leaves Chelsea this summer he is most likely to be replaced by Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Conte is expected to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and despite the likes of Luis Enrique and Thomas Tuchel in contention Blues' ideal first choice is Pochettino.

The Stamford Bridge club are well aware of the fact that it would be difficult to take the Argentine away from Spurs but if they pip their London rivals to a top-four finish this season then they will approach Pochettino and try to tempt him with the promise of Champions League football.

Conte has already admitted that his team will find it difficult to qualify for the Champions League should they fail to beat Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Antonio Conte is determined to land Toby Alderweireld

Toby Alderweireld hasn't signed a new contract with Spurs

Last week, the Daily Star had reported that Chelsea are ready to beat Manchester United to the signing of Tottenham Hotspur star Toby Alderweireld and according to their latest reports, the Blues have emerged as front-runners to land the player, who has been dropped from Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The Belgium international has two years left on his current deal and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is not ready to give in to his demands for a new one worth £150,000-a-week.

Alderweireld wants to earn the same amount his fellow defender Virgil van Dijk gets at Liverpool following his January move from Southampton.

The 28-year-old, who has starred for Spurs since his 2015 move from Atletico Madrid, has a £25million release clause which can be activated in 2019 and the club may listen to offers in the region of £40m at the end of the season.

Real Madrid not willing to sell Marco Asensio

Marco Asensio has been linked with a move to the Premier League

Last month, The Daily Star reported had that Real Madrid star Marco Asensio has received offers to join five clubs, including Premier League sides Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

In other reports, the publication claimed that the London club are willing to pay £119 million for the Spanish international to beat Liverpool's bid.

However, according to The Mirror, Blue's bid has been rejected by the La Liga giants.

The 22-year-old forward is frustrated because he has struggled for regular first-team starts under Zinedine Zidane.

The midfielder broke into the Madrid first-team last season after an impressive loan spell at Espanyol and has netted 20 goals in 77 career appearances for the Spanish giants.

Asensio is contracted with Los Blancos until 2023 and has a massive £621 million release clause.

Bayern Munich and Juventus are reportedly the other two clubs, who are trying to lure Asensio away from the Spanish capital.