In a shock news report, Le 10 Sport claim that striker Michy Batshuayi could return to former club Marseille on loan in January after playing only 52 minutes of Premier League action in five substitute appearances since joining the club for £33 million in the summer. That deal was reportedly not one that Conte wanted, who was frustrated at having missed out on many of his top targets who did not want to leave Champions League football.
Conte’s decision to play with just one up-front, avoiding his preferred system of two up front, is seen as a statement that he is not convinced by the young Belgian, despite the 23-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, having scored three goals in seven games, with only two EFL Cup starts to his name to date. Whilst he has bags of potential and was hugely in demand in the summer, it seems that Conte is not a big fan.
The Italian is preparing a major overhaul of his squad, and Sport report that he could be set to bring as many as four players from La Liga as his scouts have been busy in Spain in recent weeks. The ex-Juventus boss is believed to be targeting Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann, Valencia right-back Joao Cancelo and Sevilla pair goalkeeper Sergio Rico and former Premier League midfielder Steven N’Zonzi.
Roman Abramovich is expected to back his man with a sizable transfer budget to spend in the summer as Conte insists that reinforcements are required all over the pitch if his side are to return to Champions League with a top four finish at the first time of asking. None of the four players will come cheaply for the Blues, but they are some of La Liga’s brightest young talents and would add depth and quality to Chelsea as Conte builds his own side.
However, one man could be heading the other way as Diego Costa has spoken out regarding speculation in the summer which linked him with a move to Atletico Madrid as the Mirror report on quootes in Spain as he said:
“I always follow what Atletico are doing, I’m very happy for them now they are leaders in La Liga. It doesn’t surprise me. It’s a big big club. If I miss Spain? A little bit, but I’m very happy in London.”
Chelsea fans will be concerned that the Spaniard still remains reluctant to commit himself to the London club despite his improved performances at the start of this campaign under Conte, who is desperate to keep hold of him.
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