Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has stepped up the club’s bid to land at least three new signings before the transfer window shuts, but the Blues are prepared to play a waiting game over Southampton central defender Virgil van Dijk.

Granovskaia has scheduled a host of back-to-back meetings with clubs and agents this week over Chelsea’s remaining transfer business, with the Blues expecting to be busy over the final 10 days of the window.

Talks are ongoing over Chelsea’s interest in Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater, Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Everton’s Ross Barkley, despite his injury, and Southampton right-back Cedric Soares.

Inter Milan are braced for a bid from Chelsea for winger Antonio Candreva, while Paris Saint-Germain want to sell right-back Serge Aurier before the window shuts.