Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has given a transfer update ahead of the closing stages of the January transfer window, with the Blues yet to buy any new players to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season.
The club have, however, been very busy selling players during this term, with some players still set to leave the Bridge before February 1st. Chelsea sold Brazilian midfielder Oscar and club veteran John Obi Mikel to China before letting 23-year-old Patrick Bamford leave the club for Middlesbrough.
Now Chelsea’s back-up goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and 32-year-old Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic are one foot outside the exit door with offers from Bournemouth and Zenit St. Petersburg on the table waiting for a response.
Conte says he’d be very happy to bring in new faces to positions where they’re currently ‘a few players short’, but insists he’s also happy to resume with the current team and focus on loan returnees Charly Musonda, Kenedy and Nathan Ake.
“I think we have to improve our squad in the numbers of players, I think in some roles we are a few players short. If that happens Ill be happy, if it didn’t happen I’ll contuine in this way.
I must be honest though, I don’t know. I repeat that if something happens and our squad has a number of players [added] then I’m happy, but if it dones’t happen I’m happy the same.
We will continue in this way, trying new players Musonda, Kenedy and Ake.”
– Antonio Conte, Express
Chelsea will be playing Brentford tomorrow on the fourth round of the FA Cup, and a good number of youngster could be making their first Chelsea appearance of the season.
