Antonio Conte: Don't compare Chelsea's Alvaro Morata to Tottenham's Harry Kane until end of season

New arrival | Alvaro Morata signed for Chelsea from Real Madrid
Getty Images for ICC
Simon Johnson8 August 2017

Alvaro Morata shouldn't be compared to Tottenham striker Harry Kane until the end of the season according to Chelsea coach Antonio Conte.

Conte revealed last month that Kane is the forward he most wants to sign despite having just bought Morata from Real Madrid for £58m.

When asked if Morata is at the same level as Kane, Conte said: "I can't reply to this question because Kane played in the English league and Morata played in the Spanish and Italian leagues. After this season, I can reply to you in the right way."

Kane has scored 94 goals in his last three seasons at Tottenham, but Morata was a fringe player at Real Madrid last term.

Morata found the net just 27 times for Juventus between 2014-16, but helped them win successive Serie A titles.

The Spain international also scored 20 goals at Real Madrid despite limited game-time last season - with the club winning La Liga and the Champions League.

Pochettino's comments implied Morata has a confidence problem, but Conte has dismissed the notion.

Antonio Conte: Hazard wants to stay at Chelsea

He added: "I don't know about this situation (Morata's reasons for not joining Spurs). But I think Morata is a really good player and he can compete with every striker in the world to try to play.

"He is a young player and my task is also to help him improve, to exploit his quality because I know he has great quality and my task is this – to improve his quality to become one of the best strikers in the world."