Would Torino striker Andrea Belotti be worth £88 million to Chelsea?

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As Chelsea’s transfer window continues without much good news, Italian newspaper La Stampa claim that the Blues could make a bid of €100 million (£88 million) to go all out for Torino striker Andrea Belotti.

What would he bring to Chelsea?

Goals, goals and more goals. Belotti scored 28 times in 38 games for Torino in 2016/17 and added a further four in nine for the Italian national team, with one of the most prolific goal scoring ratios in Europe.

An excellent finisher, Belotti has shown that he can find the corner of the net from the most unlikely of angles. Also a ferocious competitor, he is an all round player who likes to get stuck in to a physical battle, at times being compared to a less extreme version of current Chelsea forward Diego Costa. His aerial strength only goes to show the tough side of his game.

He is also happy to help out defensively and is often found deep in his own half assisting his midfield and defence. He also looks to defend from the front with a high pressing game, though that may not suit Antonio Conte’s style.

Is a move likely?

Belotti has been one of the most in-demand players in Europe this summer, if rumours are to be believed, with several top clubs linked. However, Torino do seem reluctant to sell and will hold out for a very high price, which would make a figure of £88 million seem like it could be possible.

Whether Chelsea would be prepared to pay that is a different matter, and given that they are yet to beat their transfer record set with the £50 million purchase of Fernando Torres from Liverpool, it may suggest that it would be a big leap to bid such a huge figure.

With Antonio Conte seemingly not convinced by the 23-year-old, having ignored him when in charge of the Italian national team, it seems that it may be a bizarre move to then spend what could be close to a world record fee on a player who he did not select for his squad only a year ago.