Transfer Centre

Antonio Conte wants January signings before offloading players

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 02 January 2018

Conte: 'Impossible to sell without buying'

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says that it is "impossible" to offload any of his players in the January transfer window without making new signings as replacements.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has said that it is "impossible" to offload any of his players in the January transfer window without making new signings as replacements.

The Italian's stance on transfers to and from Stamford Bridge comes amid defender David Luiz, who has fallen out of favour in West London, being linked with a move away in the winter window.

Conte is not completely opposed to January exits, but fears that Chelsea's squad depth means that the club must sign players before letting others leave.

"My expectation for all the players we have in the squad, to stay here and to try to continue to work," the manager told reporters.

"Our squad is not big. For this reason I think it's impossible to send one player on loan or to sell one player, if we don't take another player."

"I don't think this could be realistic," Conte said when asked if recalling the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be seen as a solution to Chelsea's squad depth. "The players we send on loan are playing. I don't see a possibility to come back for some players on loan."

Loftus-Cheek, who is on loan at Crystal Palace, is joined by Tammy Abraham of Swansea City in spending the season away from West London.