Conte: Chelsea ‘will have a problem’ completing transfer business

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte fears he could be left frustrated in his bid to strengthen the Blues squad before the transfer window closes.

Conte has brought in big-money signings in the shape of midfielder N’Golo Kante and forward Michy Batshuayi this summer but has yet to add the defensive reinforcements he desperately needs.

The Blues have long been linked with Kalidou Koulibaly but have been unable to lure him away from Napoli, while AC Milan say they have knocked back a bid for Alessio Romagnoli.

Conte admits his current squad is not deep enough and with Wednesday’s transfer deadline looming the Italian knows time is running out.

“I must be honest, I think we’ll have a problem to reach our targets,” he said.

“I hope, through this transfer market, to improve the squad but we understand our targets are very difficult to reach.

“I think most important thing is to work to improve the squad and improve your players. You know that when you start the season it is already very tough.

“It’s important to have many players to face these situations, but this market is very crazy and we are seeing that it’s very difficult to reach our targets.

“I’ve been working with these players for only 40 days and we know we can improve a lot, but we also it’s important to have the right number of players in the squad to face all the other teams.

“We know Chelsea is a great team and a great team must fight to the end for the title. But also we know last season the players were 10th. Not fourth, fifth or sixth, 10th! Don’t forget this.”

Chelsea this week did manage to sign goalkeeper Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo from Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, but Conte was quick to point out that did not signal the imminent departure of second-choice keeper Asmir Begovic.