Chelsea need more midfielders after selling Nemanja Matic to Man Utd - Chris Sutton

CHELSEA boss Antonio Conte will regret letting midfielder Nemanja Matic leave this summer, according to Chris Sutton.

Manchester United announce Nemanja Matic signing

Chelsea sold Matic to Manchester United this week in a £40million deal.

The Premier League champions already signed a replacement in Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco in mid-July, but Sutton fears the Frenchman won't be enough.

Along with Matic, Conte has also seen midfielders Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

And Sutton fears the Chelsea manager could be left short in the centre of the pitch with the added fixtures of Champions League football this year.

Nemanja MaticGETTY

Chelsea will miss Nemanja Matic next season, says Chris Sutton

He’s certainly a loss for Chelsea

Chris Sutton

“He’s certainly a loss for Chelsea,” he told BBC Five Live when quizzed about the Matic deal.

“They’ll feel (Tiemoue) Bakayoko is a like-for-like replacement.

“I don’t think Chelsea have the strength in depth and they’ve got to compete in Europe this season.

“They are short certainly in that central midfield area. They’ve got (N'Golo) Kante and Bakayoko but they’ll need more this season.”

Matic scored two goals and provided nine assists as Chelsea were crowned Premier League champions last term and was also played a key part in the 2014/15 title success under United manager Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea have today been linked with a surprise move for Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater but the Foxes are expected to resist any bid from the Blues.

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