Report: Sergi Roberto wanted by Antonio Conte at Chelsea

According to ESPN, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is keen to bring Barcelona's Sergi Roberto to Stamford Bridge as he looks to keep pace with Pep Guardiola, who is reimagining his Manchester City side this summer in a bid to snatch Conte's Premier League trophy for himself.

The versatile Barcelona player is predominantly a central midfielder but can operate as a right-back too and Conte needs back-up in both positions as the Italian looks to continue to utilise the 3-4-3 formation that many believe won Chelsea the league last season in his first year in charge.

Conte currently only has Cesar Azpilicueta in his squad who can lay claim to being a out-and-out right-back but Victor Moses played in the right wing back role last season and did well. Meanwhile, Nemanja Matic looks like he could be on the outs at the club and Roberto could be the kind of midfielder to help N'golo Kante in the middle of the field as part of the '4' in Conte's system when necessary.

The Spanish international has a buyout clause of just north of €40 million, which seems excessive, until you factor in the prices players have been going for this summer. Conte added Alvaro Morata recently and has also beefed up his defensive and midfield options to with the transfer of Tiemoué Bakayoko from Monaco and Anthony Rudiger from Roma.

Sergi Roberto could be the perfect role player to give Conte's squad the balance needed as they look to compete both domestically and in Europe for more honours in his second year.