The competition for Atalanta midfielder, and Chelsea target, Franck Kessie is hotting up, with Serie A side Roma announcing an interest, according to a report in Italy.

The Gazzetta dello Sport paper today says the Giallorossi are preparing to move for the Ivorian – whose team suffered a surprise early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations with defeat to Morocco last night – although any transfer would not go through until the summer.

The Corriere dello Sport , meanwhile, reports three Italian giants are preparing to swoop if Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas opts to leave the club at the end of the season.

After Fabregas told Chelsea TV of his frustrations at not being a regular in the starting XI, Spanish radio station Fichajes reported – according to La Corriere – Inter, Milan and Juventus would all be ready to sign the Spaniard in the close season, for an anticipated asking price of €25-30 million (£21.3-25.5m).

Both Italian sports papers are also carrying the Sun 's claim that Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been told he will have to let goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois move to the Bernabeu if he wants to sign Real Madrid attacker Alvaro Morata .