Antonio Conte is ready to end his hunt for a big striker after Chelsea made a £50million deal to sign Edin Dzeko.
The champions have agreed to pay that price to Italian side Roma for the former Manchester City forward, plus their Brazilian left-back Emerson Palmieri.
Emerson's contract is already sorted and he is set to sign, while Dzeko’s representatives flew to London on Monday to finalise his personal terms.
The Bosnia & Herzegovina international has reservations about being a back-up to £60million summer buy Alvaro Morata, but is being offered assurances about playing time and the Blues are confident the deal will get done.
Conte will talk transfers and more when he faces the cameras to preview Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal.
That's all from Conte
A quick round-up of what we have learned from Conte today...
- Morata and Fabregas are out
- Cahill, Drinkwater and Courtois are all doubts
- Christensen is back fit
- He’s determined to reach the final
- No update on Dzeko/Palmieri deals
Conte on Pirlo
Conte was asked about Andrea Pirlo’s recent comments.
The former Juventus midfielder wants to see a revolution of Italian football following their failure to qualify for the World Cup this summer.
“I love this player, now he’s a former player, unfortunately. What happened in Italy was a disaster, for sure we have to change something.”
Will Brighton front three remain?
Conte was asked on whether the front three from Brighton of Batshuayi, Willian and Hazard will start vs Arsenal.
“I don’t know, I have another night to decide the starting 11.
“Every game is different and the quality of your opponent changes.
“You have to decide whether it is right to stick with these players or make changes”
Full strength for Chelsea
The semi-final clash with Arsenal is not a time for youngsters.
“No, I think I have all my players available and we are in the position to reach the final.
“In this case the players in this squad it is right to have the possibility.”
Warning for Blues about Arsenal's strengths
He has also warned Chelsea about Arsenal’s strengths.
“When you play against Arsenal, you must be prepared to suffer without the ball.
“They like to be offensive and bring many players in the box to find combinations between strikers-midfielders-wingers.
“We must pay attention and be compact”
Conte on recent form
He has also addressed the recent form, which saw them only record their first win of 2018 when they took on Brighton at the weekend,
“The problem in the last period was that we weren’t very clinical, we had chances.
“Against Brighton we scored four times, some beautiful goals, the second one in particular.”
Conte on potential final opponents
On the possibility of playing Manchester City of Bristol City if they get past Arsenal...
“Man City have a good advantage as they won the first leg 2-1. But in this country every game is not easy.”
“In this competition Man City struggled a lot to get to the next round in the FA Cup, it was the same as us against Norwich in the FA Cup.”
On Dzeko and Palmieri
A little updates, of sorts, on the double Roma swoop.
Not much really to report right now.
“I don’t know. As you know with the transfer market if there is news the club will inform you.”
More on transfers
He’s still continuing on Kenedy and transfers.
“As you know very well, after this question about Kenedy.
“I said then if the club decides to loan one play they decide to buy another player or we decide to work with a young player like Dujon Sterling, I am ready for both cases.”
Kenedy is now ready for PL loan
More on Kenedy...
“He struggled a lot to play at Watford and played only 24 minutes but now he is ready.
“He has played more games with us.”
Conte backs Kenedy loan move
Conte believes that Kenedy’s loan move to Newcastle is great for the player.
“I think [Kenedy] is going on loan to Newcastle.
“For sure we are talking about a young player with great potential. He needs to play regularly.
“To go to Newcastle is a great challenge for him.”
Conte says final is "important target"
On the potential of reaching the final:
“This is an important target. Especially for me, in my first year and a half, I have the opportunity to win the league, play in the FA Cup final, community shield and (maybe) another final.”
Sanchez departure changes nothing for Chelsea
Conte says that not having Sanchez will not change anything for Arsenal.
Mkhitaryan will not be able to make his Arsenal debut in the tie, either.
“Arsenal has a good squad, if you remember in the game at home in the league, Sanchez didn’t play.
“It was the same in the Carabao Cup, he played for only 10 mins.”
Conte on Arsenal clash
Conte is expecting an open game against Arsenal on Wednesday.
“There is a target for both teams, to reach the final of this competition.
“I think this is a good target for us, it is a good target for Arsenal.
“After a 0-0, for sure the game will be very open.”
Christensen to return
There is better news for Chelsea on Andreas Christensen, though.
Conte kept this one brief
“He is fit.”
Three more players are doubts
There is also doubts over three more players.
Courtois, Cahill and Drinkwater are all 50/50.
“I have to check a couple of situation, before I make the best decision for tomorrow’s game.”
He's here! We start with team news...
Conte reveals that Morara and Fabregas will not play against Arsenal.
“Morata and Fabregas are out. Not available for the Arsenal game, then I have to check a couple of situations.”
On Morata: “He has a problem in his back and he is injured”
Conte running slightly late
Conte will be with us shortly.
However he is, as most managers are, running late.
Updates to follow soon...
Dzeko still in Roma contention
While we wait for Antonio Conte to arrive here at Cobham, a little look at Roma’s press conference.
As it stands, he is set to play for the Italian club tomorrow in their league game at Sampdoria.
Manager Eusebio Di Francesco said: “As things stand at the moment, he will. Obviously I’m going to have to assess things and see what frame of mind he’s in. I’ll speak to him about it.”
Kenedy undergoes Newcastle medical
Chelsea midfielder Kenedy was undergoing a medical on Tyneside on Tuesday morning as he closed in on a loan move to Newcastle.
The 21-year-old Brazilian headed for the north-east on Monday night after being given the green light to do so by manager Antonio Conte.
Should the deal go through as expected, opposite number Rafael Benitez will get his hands on a player he courted during the summer as he looks to add pace and invention to the fight for Premier League safety.
His capture would represent a significant breakthrough for Benitez, who had hoped to have his transfer business completed by January 20.
Owner Mike Ashley has sanctioned investment this month with the club having slipped to within a point of the drop zone.
Benitez is understood to be targeting a proven striker in particular with his side having scored just 22 goals in 24 league outings to date.
Hazard reveals details of conversation with father
Eden Hazard revealed he had to have a father-son talk after his dad claimed the Chelsea star was holding out for a move to Real Madrid.
Thierry Hazard said last month his son had refused a new Blues deal to keep his option open in case the Spanish giants made a move for him.
But after scoring twice against Brighton, winger Hazard said: “My dad says some bad things.”
Asked if Hazard senior was in trouble, the Blues star said: “Yeah. I talked with him, no worries.”
Hazard’s current Chelsea deal expires in 2020.