Antonio Conte insists he is ‘not interested’ in speaking about potential transfer targets, amid speculation Chelsea are interested in signing Edin Dzeko and Peter Crouch.
Former Italy boss Conte is believed to be desperate to bolster his attacking options during the January transfer window, with Chelsea being held to three goalless draws already this year.
Summer signing Alvaro Morata has struggled in recent weeks after a superb start to his career at Stamford Bridge, while Conte has shown little faith in Michy Batshuayi.
The reigning Premier League champions are said to have made enquiries into Roma’s Dzeko and Stoke City’s Crouch but Conte refused to get drawn into his targets.
Asked about the club’s interest in former Manchester City ace Dzeko, Conte said at his pre-match press conference: ‘As you know very well I think it’s not right to talk about players of other teams.
‘I’m not interested in it, there is a transfer market in this period, if something happens you are the first to know news.’
On Crouch, Conte added: ‘My answer is the same, I’m not interested in this conversation because is it not respectful for my players, for the other players and the other clubs.
‘I can talk about my players, about Morata, about Michy, about their characteristics. It is not right to talk about the characteristics of other players.
‘I always said I’m happy to work with my players. To try to improve them. Every striker has there own characteristics. I don’t want to talk about others players because it is not right.’
Conte was underwhelmed by Chelsea’s transfer business last summer and admitted he could not say he was ‘confident’ about getting the players he wanted this month.
‘Confident? Confident is a big word, we have to wait,’ he said. ‘I repeat I give my opinion to the club but as I said before the final decision is for the club.
‘I have to wait and to see what happens during this transfer market. I’m very calm about this because I’m working with my players in the right way. I’m happy with their commitment.
‘If the club wants to help us, we are happy. Otherwise we continue in this way and continue to put everything in for the team and for the satisfaction of the fans.’
Chelsea, currently fourth in the Premier League, face relegation-battlers Brighton on Saturday.
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