The January transfer window has opened and according to Antonio Conte, Chelsea will be targeting for improvement via the market, and summer signing Michy Batshuayi is unlikely to be loaned out at this stage of the season.
The Belgium international is still yet to make a start in the Premier League after signing from Olympique de Marseille in July, but he doesn’t seem to mind too much as according to the manager, the 23-year-old wants to stay and fight for his place at Stamford Bridge, TeamTalk quotes.
He [Michy Batshuayi] wants to stay.
He’s starting his path in football. He has great talent, he has great potential, and I think this season it’s very important to complete him as a footballer.
It’s not easy to play in this league. And it’s important to adapt to this league in physical and tactical situations.
We are working a lot with him and also all the other players to improve this situation.
In the future for sure he will have his chance to show that he deserves to play.
Conte has also given a hint if Chelsea are looking to improve their squad with new signings this January, as the title could be a lot harder to win if the Blues are hoping to finish the season with the same squad.
And, after selling Oscar to China for £60m last week, the money isn’t a likely problem for the Blues, with the cash already burning a hole to Conte’s back pocket.
However, the ex-Juventus boss reminds how hard it is for clubs to sign great players in the middle of the campaign, but is determined to make his best out of the window.
In January it’s always very difficult to buy.
With the club we are talking about finding the right solution in the right roles to improve the squad.
But I repeat: it won’t be easy. But we are trying. We are trying to do something.
This morning Chelsea reportedly made a £21m move for Wolfsburg left-back Ricardo Rodriguez to beat Arsenal in the race for the talented Swiss international.
Following Oscar’s departure and the probable exit of John Obi Mikel, Chelsea will surely be setting their radar on a new midfielder, with Bayern Munchen’s Arturo Vidal, Real Madrid star James Rodriguez and PSG playmaker Marco Verratti all named in the imminent shortlist.
