Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has refused to feel downhearted about the club’s problems in the transfer market this summer and is confident it will work out.
The Blues have been limited to two signings, with N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi arriving at Stamford Bridge from Leicester City and Marseille respectively.
As noted by ESPN FC, that double swoop cost the club £60m, but they’ve been unable to add to that spending so far after being rejected in their pursuits of several top targets.
However, Conte has refused to bow to pressure and splash out extortionate amounts for players that don’t warrant such fees, and believes that “hard work” can help the club get the individuals that they really want between now and the transfer deadline.
“We didn’t refuse to spend the money for the right targets,” Conte told the media. “The situation is that the target is not available to buy and to spend the money on.
“Then I also told [them] that I’d prefer to spend a lot of money on the right great player, not on a medium player.”
“We must understand that, now, in England every team has money. So you have to solve the problem with hard work. Sometimes you could solve the problem with money. Now you have to solve the problem with work. But that’s fine. I have no problem. Work is the bread and butter.”
Chelsea’s respective chases of the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Radja Nainggolan and Alessio Romagnoli have been well documented this summer, but with the trio of Serie A clubs unwilling to do business for players they consider indispensable, it’s been a tough period for Conte.
His defence will likely be the biggest area of concern as Chelsea still lack depth in that department. In turn, with just a few days remaining until the deadline, the Italian tactician will hope that his hard work pays off and leads to at least one more new arrival.
It’s been a positive start to the campaign for the Blues having won both their opening Premier League games, and while they’ll be hoping to make it three wins in a row against Burnley on Saturday, more arrivals will continue to help build further momentum.