Antonio Conte is targeting four more signings as Chelsea prepare to back their manager with a budget which could top £250 million.

Conte is to rival Manchester City in the summer spending stakes as he moves to strengthen the Premier League champions with Alex Sandro, Antonio Candreva, Fernando Llorente and Virgil van Dijk.

Sandro, the Juventus left-back, is high on Conte’s list of targets and though negotiations have proved difficult, Chelsea are optimistic about a £60 million deal for the Brazilian.

Chelsea are also stepping up their interest in Candreva, the Inter Milan winger, while Swansea’s Llorente is seen as a realistic option for Conte’s depleted attack.

Van Dijk, the Southampton ­defender, is understood to not be a top priority at this stage but ­Chelsea are continuing to monitor the ­situation and could make a bid ­before the transfer window closes.

Van Dijk wants a move away from Southampton this summer credit: PA

The Dutch centre-half has been left out of Southampton’s 25-man squad for a training camp in France this week and made it clear he wants to leave St Mary’s.

Chelsea have already forked out £130 million on four players, ­including record signing Alvaro Morata, and assured Conte they would back him with substantial funds when he signed a new ­two-year contract.

Manchester City are the biggest spenders by some distance this summer, paying an estimated £230 million as Pep Guardiola ­revamps his squad at the Etihad.

Conte insisted last week, during the pre-season tour of Asia, that Chelsea urgently needed more players. The Italian will intensify his attempts to bring in fresh faces this month.

His squad has been depleted by the departures of former captain John Terry, Nathan Ake and Nathaniel Chalobah, while last season’s leading scorer, Diego Costa, and midfielder Nemanja Matic are ­expected to be sold. Kurt Zouma, the French centre-back, has also been sent out on loan to Stoke City.

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After winning the league by seven points, Chelsea are desperate to avoid a repeat of two years ago when they endured a miserable ­title defence, eventually finishing 10th. Jose Mourinho, the manager, was sacked in December 2015 after nine defeats from 16 league games.

Cesar Azpilicueta, the defender, said: “After being champions three years ago, we had a terrible season and we have to learn from this. We know that, after being champions, every team we are going to face is going to want to win more than ­before.

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“We know it will be harder but it is what we are working on in ­pre-season, to get into the best ­condition to fight for it and also in the Champions League as well. We have a big season ahead of us.”

Chelsea will continue their ­pre-season preparations when they face Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup on Tuesday.

Morata, the £58 million buy, is expected to play some part after ­flying in on Sunday. Antonio Rudiger, the defender signed from Roma this month, will join up with the squad today

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Conte said: “It is my plan to give him [Morata] the possibility to play a part in the game. For sure, not from the start as he arrived only yesterday. He started working very strong but, for sure, I want to give him the chance to play some part of the game.

“He is a young player who has a lot of experience in his career, he played for two big teams, Real ­Madrid and Juventus, and played different games in the Champions League and won the last Champions League.

“He is ready to have a good ­impact in the Premier League.”

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Pedro, meanwhile, has suffered a fractured cheekbone and is emerging as a doubt for the Charity Shield at Wembley next month.

Conte revealed that Pedro ­sustained “multiple fractures” after his collision with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina on Saturday in Beijing.

Pedro suffered "multiple fractures" in a collision with David Ospina credit: REUTERS

The Spain international will miss 10 days of training and will wear a mask when he returns. Conte ­admitted the injury was far more serious than first envisaged.

Pedro clashed with Ospina midway through the first half of ­Chelsea’s 3-0 win and was taken to hospital. He has not joined the rest of the squad in Singapore and is now rated doubtful for the Charity Shield against Arsenal on Aug 6.

Conte said: “The situation was more serious. I hoped it would be only concussion. He had multiple fractures, but I think, with a mask in 10 days, he could come back to work with us.”