Antonio Conte’s comments are exactly what Chelsea fans want to hear
Antonio Conte will try to strengthen his Chelsea squad in January, recognising that his club’s depth is not as extensive as he would like.
Chelsea are leading the way at the top of the Premier League table but Antonio Conte is not resting on his laurels. The boss has declared his willingness to dip into the January transfer market to fill some holes within his squad.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur, the Italian revealed that he would seize the opportunity if the right player becomes available.
"There are some positions that, if we are able to find the right solution, it is important to take that solution. This championship is long. Also, I know the difficulty of the market and finding the right player. But we are talking about this. – via BBC Sport"
Chelsea’s starting eleven has been fantastic over the last three months. Furthermore, players who have been given a chance through rotation or injury (such as Cesc Fabregas and Willian) have impressed.
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However, depth in certain positions is a concern. At the wingback roles, Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso have been superb, but Conte is short of options should one succumb to injury. Ola Aina is a potential solution, but his lack of experience will worry the boss as the title race heats up.
Striker is another spot in which Chelsea are treading on thin ice. Diego Costa leads the Premier League scoring charts, but his cover is not particularly clear. Conte opted to play a false nine when Costa was unavailable against Bournemouth, leaving Michy Batshuayi on the bench. Should Costa pick up a knock (he is injury prone – this is likely), the Blues need someone to trust in his place.
With that in mind, January is an opportunity to consolidate Chelsea’s position at the top. Moreover, they should be in a better position than their rivals to make moves. Potential signees will see a revived Chelsea playing great football and sitting top of the heap. The calibre of player perhaps unavailable during the past summer is no longer off the table.
There have been a plethora of rumours doing the rounds, but nothing seems legitimate at the moment. Chelsea fans, though, will be reassured that Conte is on the lookout for any genuine opportunities to strengthen the club’s Premier League charge.