Chelsea coach Antonio Conte said Friday that he holds talks “ every day ” with club bosses about transfer targets as the Premier League champions race to further bolster their squad .
The Italian is set to give big -money signing Alvaro Morata his first Chelsea start against Inter Milan in a pre -season friendly in Singapore on Saturday and has also splashed out this summer on the defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco .
But with most of Chelsea’ s Premier League rivals buying big in the close season , Conte is intent on adding to a squad that this season will also need to cope with Champions League football.
The London side have been linked in British media with England international midfielders Alex Oxlade -Chamberlain of Arsenal and Everton ’ s wantaway Ross Barkley.
“With the club we speak every day about the way to strengthen this team and the squad , ” said Conte, talking in Singapore .
“The club knows very well which is my idea and where are the positions to strengthen and if this is possible , it is ok. If not, we continue this way . ”
Conte said he plans to play his best side against Inter , with Morata — signed last week from Real Madrid in a deal reported to be worth up to 80 million euros ($ 92 m) — likely to spearhead the attack from the start.
Morata came on as a second-half substitute against German champions Bayern Munich in a friendly on Tuesday in Singapore and supplied an assist in a 3 -2 defeat .
With Arsenal looming in the Community Shield on August 6 at Wembley , Conte said: “It is very important to bring my players in a good fitness as soon as possible . For this reason , we play with the best starting 11 (against Inter ).
The Italian is set to give big -money signing Alvaro Morata his first Chelsea start against Inter Milan in a pre -season friendly in Singapore on Saturday and has also splashed out this summer on the defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco .
But with most of Chelsea’ s Premier League rivals buying big in the close season , Conte is intent on adding to a squad that this season will also need to cope with Champions League football.
The London side have been linked in British media with England international midfielders Alex Oxlade -Chamberlain of Arsenal and Everton ’ s wantaway Ross Barkley.
“With the club we speak every day about the way to strengthen this team and the squad , ” said Conte, talking in Singapore .
“The club knows very well which is my idea and where are the positions to strengthen and if this is possible , it is ok. If not, we continue this way . ”
Conte said he plans to play his best side against Inter , with Morata — signed last week from Real Madrid in a deal reported to be worth up to 80 million euros ($ 92 m) — likely to spearhead the attack from the start.
Morata came on as a second-half substitute against German champions Bayern Munich in a friendly on Tuesday in Singapore and supplied an assist in a 3 -2 defeat .
With Arsenal looming in the Community Shield on August 6 at Wembley , Conte said: “It is very important to bring my players in a good fitness as soon as possible . For this reason , we play with the best starting 11 (against Inter ).
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