Chelsea will step up their efforts to sign Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko next week with the midfielder expected to cost more than €50 million (£42.7m).

Telegraph Sport understands that Chelsea will open negotiations for the 22 year-old as part of a significant recruitment drive with funds of at least £200m being made available to strength the Premier League title-winning squad and prepare them to challenge for the Champions League next season.

Bakayoko has emerged as a key target to improve the midfield options available to manager Antonio Conte, who Chelsea want to tie down to a new contract to ward off Inter Milan’s continued interest, and could even be the first signing if talks go smoothly now that Monaco have wrapped up their first French league title for 17 years.

Monaco are braced for a number of offers for their players after an outstanding season in which they also reached the Champions League semi-finals.