Chelsea Transfer News: Danilo Competition Reportedly Provided by Manchester City

Manchester City are reportedly set to challenge Chelsea for the signing of Real Madrid full-back Danilo. 

According to Simon Johnson in the Evening Standard, the west London outfit have refused to meet the £30.8 million asking price for the Brazilian, but City are ready to swoop as they search for another full-back. 

Johnson added the Sky Blues have turned to Danilo, 26, after missing out on signing Dani Alves, while Chelsea manager Antonio Conte's bid to bag Alex Sandro from Juventus is all but over after Leonardo Bonucci joined AC Milan.

Danilo joined Real in 2015 but, while he has won a La Liga title and two UEFA Champions Leagues with the club, he has failed to really impress.

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He can operate in either full-back role and would likely be a competitor for wing-backs Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso at Chelsea.

At Real last season, he only made 17 La Liga starts, with Dani Carvajal and Marcelo preferred by manager Zinedine Zidane.

However, Conte has proved with both Moses and Alonso that he has the ability to get the best out of previously peripheral players, and Danilo has more than enough raw talent for him to work with.

If City are looming, though, Chelsea will need to move fast and decisively, as they need added depth and competition ahead of their return to the Champions League next season.