New Chelsea boss to get £247m transfer kitty

Roman Abramovich will give the new Chelsea manager a £247 million war chest to build a new team at Stamford Bridge, reports the Daily Mail.

The Russian billionaire will let his next boss have the final say on any signings, but has placed a number of high-profile players on a summer shopping list.

From that shortlist, Abramovich intends to allow the manager, who will be appointed at the end of the season, to take his pick.

Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric, who came close to making the switch across London at the start of the season, is high on the owner's wish list.

A centre forward will be a top priority - with Napoli duo Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani, Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao and Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain lined up as potential targets.

Young European talents Mario Gotze of Borussia Dortmund and Eden Hazard of Lille have also caught Abramovich's eye.