Chelsea boss tells club to reinforce team; says he can’t win the league with 11 players

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has increased the heat on the Stamford Bridge club’s board to sign quality players by warning it will be ‘impossible’ to negotiate through four competitions with only ’11 or 13 players.’

The West London club have already splashed more than £120m this summer transfer window on defender Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, and striker Alvaro Morata, but having lost long serving captain John Terry and Central midfielder Nemanja Matic and with Spaniard Diego Costa away without leave, the Chelsea boss is keen on strengthening his rather depleted squad.

Chelsea Chiefs Michael Emenalo and Marina Granovskaia now have just five days to properly strengthen the squad before the summer transfer window slams shut on Thursday.

They are continuing their effort to secure the signature of Arsenal’s versatile midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater and Ross Barkley of Everton, while Southampton’s Cedric Soares is still an option.

The former Juventus head coach, who enjoyed the club’s European competition absence last season, warned the English Premier League Champions that signings are required as September would see the match play seven games in four matches.

The former Italy manager remained unforthcoming on striker Diego Costa’s saga, with the Spaniard still in Brazil.