Chelsea agree £50million double transfer deal for Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri of Roma

Antonio Conte is ready to end his hunt for a big striker after Chelsea made a £50million deal to sign Edin Dzeko.

The champions have agreed to pay that price to Italian side Roma for the former Manchester City forward, plus their Brazilian left-back Emerson Palmieri.

Emerson’s contract is already sorted and he is set to sign, while Dzeko’s representatives flew to London on Monday to finalise his personal terms.

The Bosnia & Herzegovina international has reservations about being a back-up to £60million summer buy Alvaro Morata, but is being offered assurances about playing time and the Blues are confident the deal will get done.

Boss Conte has been desperate to bring in a new striker and even looked at Stoke’s 36-year-old Peter Crouch last week in desperation.

But Dzeko, who turns 32 in March and whose contract at Roma expires in 2020, has got Premier League experience and was a proven goal-scorer for City.

Roma have agreed to let him go and that has persuaded Dzeko to move to Stamford Bridge, where a contract worth £120,000-a-week is on the table.

Chelsea have strict rules on deals for players over 30 but are clearly ready to bend them to get Dzeko over the line, with the Roma striker wanting significant add-ons.

Chelsea have also been looking for a new left-back and 23-year-old Emerson arrives after they failed to get Juventus star Alex Sandro at that position.

Dzeko is valued at around £30m in the deal, with Roma potentially getting around an extra £10m in add-ons based on appearances and success.

But Chelsea are facing a new worry over keeper Thibaut Courtois, who has yet to agree a new contract.

The Belgium international, who has been offered a deal worth over £200,000-a-week to stay, has emerged as a target for Real Madrid.

European champions Madrid were hoping to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga this month, but he has opted to stay put.

That has prompted the Spanish giants to renew their interest in Courtois, who is also a target for Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea will want assurances by this summer that he will eventually re-sign or they may have to consider selling.

Elsewhere, Arturo Vidal is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.

The Bayern Munich midfielder’s agents sounded out Chelsea last summer about a £15m switch.