Antonio Conte warns Chelsea they must be more prepared for next summer's window to avoid scrambling around to complete late signings

• e-mail

Antonio Conte warned Chelsea they must have a clear plan of attack when they go into next year's transfer market.

Conte backed the Premier League decision to close the summer window before next season starts because it will force clubs to act more swiftly in the recruitment process.

Chelsea missed out on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fernando Llorente and Ross Barkley and, earlier in the summer, were beaten to Romelu Lukaku by Manchester United and failed to land Alex Sandro from Juventus, one of the manager's top targets. 'It is a good decision (to close the window early),' said Conte. 'The transfer market is always a very difficult period, above all for the coach. 

Antonio Conte has warned Chelsea they need to be more savvy for next summer's window

Conte had a frustrating summer after failing to land several targets and had to do late business

Chelsea's biggest blow was missing out on long-term target Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 

Chelsea had an offer accepted for the player but the midfielder opted to join Liverpool instead

'You wait for new players and sometimes you lose your players. I don't love this period. For me, if this period is shorter it is better. If you have a plan and your ideas are very clear, I don't see a problem. If you wait until the end of the transfer market, you could have problems.'

This year, Chelsea spent a combined £60million on Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta on deadline day and were scrambling to sign at least three more players to meet Conte's demands for a stronger squad.

'The club tried its best,' said Conte. 'Sometimes you are able to buy. Sometimes you are not, for many reasons. I'm very happy to work with the players we have. The transfer window is closed and is the past for us. It is time to work with these players. We tried to improve our squad and will try to do our best for the whole season. After this season, everyone will have more answers.'

He was back on-message and dismissed as 'ridiculous' the notion that he was told by Chelsea to keep out of talks with Barkley after a conversation with Oxlade-Chamberlain about playing wing-back was thought to have contributed to the England midfielder's decision to choose Liverpool instead of Chelsea.

Zappacosta and Drinkwater are in the squad but the prospect of a debut for the former Leicester midfielder at the King Power Stadium seems remote because Conte believes he is lacking fitness.

That could spare Drinkwater a hostile reception after Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare hinted that the midfielder's move to Chelsea became fractious. 

Shakespeare said he was aware Drinkwater wanted to leave 'well before' the 27-year-old submitted a transfer request in the final week of the window and admitted the departure disappointed him.

'There is a saying that a lot of things in football will disappoint you but nothing should surprise you,' he said. 'There aren't just the club and Danny, there are advisers as well. It can be a complicated web. It shows you can't take anything for granted in football.'

Despite also losing out on Barkley and Llorente, Conte refused to blame Chelsea's deal-makers

Chelsea did manage to capture Davide Zappacosta on deadline day to boost their defence

Danny Drinkwater also signed but a debut against his old club on Saturday looks unlikely

Conte admitted Drinkwater is still not in the best physical condition but has trained well

However, he hinted other new boy Zappacosta, could be in line for his debut against Leicester

He confirmed Eden Hazard, who hasn't played for him since last season, will be in the squad