Antonio Conte keen on Spanish defender - he has £25m release clause

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Antonio Conte keen on Spanish defender - he has £25m release clause


 
CHELSEA are watching £25m-rated Sporting Gijon defender Jorge Mere with a view to a summer swoop.
 
The 19-year-old is a Spanish Under 21 international and tipped to become a mainstay of the senior team in years to come.
 
 Valencia are favourites to land the centre half if he leaves Sporting but Chelsea are also interested and have sent scouts to watch him.
 
 Mere is already a first-team regular for Sporting and has made over 50 appearances for the La Liga strugglers.
 
 He has also represented Spain at every age group, winning Euro 2015 with the Under 19s, and was called up by the seniors for the first time last May.
 
 Mere is under contract until 2020 and has a £25m release clause but it is understood Sporting are willing to sell.
 
 They are battling relegation and could even be forced to accept a lower price if they go down.
 
 It’s no secret Chelsea are looking to strengthen their defence next season, but any move for Mere would be a long-term one.
 
 It is even possible the Blues could sign the player and loan him back out for a season to aid his development.
 
 Chelsea’s main priority is to bring Andreas Christensen back from his loan at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
 
 Antonio Conte has also asked for a left wing-back, with Juventus star Alex Sandro his preferred option.
 
 And they are expected to sign another forward, with Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata still on their radar.
 
 But Chelsea’s interest in Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie has cooled, with Roma now favourites to sign him.