Conte is keen on adding English players (Picture: Getty)
Conte is keen on adding English players (Picture: Getty)

Antonio Conte has admitted he wants Chelsea to have a strong core of English players as he chases the signing of Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Blues boss is targeting several new additions before the end of the summer window, having already complained about a lack of signings, and he is particularly keen to land English players.

With a £35million deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain reportedly edging closer, Conte is also targeting Leicester’s Danny Drinkwater and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley as part of his summer overhaul.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been linked with a move away from Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

With Gary Cahill suspended against Tottenham Hotspur last week, Chelsea were without an English ace in the starting XI but when challenged about whether more home stars should be playing at Stamford Bridge, the Italian admitted it’s something he’s looking at addressing.

When asked if a strong English presence is important to him at Chelsea, he replied: ‘To have a core of English players, is important.

‘But above all, to have a core of ‘good’ English players. Is it something I value? Yes, I do.’

MORE : Everton to make £40million bid for shock Chelsea target Jamie Vardy