Transfer Centre

Antonio Conte urges Chelsea to sign new defender

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 21 August 2016

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wants the club to sign a new defender after highlighting that the Blues squad is short of options at the back.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has urged the club to sign a new defender as he feels that his squad is short of options at the back.

The Italian oversaw his second Premier League win in charge of the Blues as they beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Conte told Sky Sports News after the match: "If you look now at our squad, we have only five defenders - four that started today and an academy player, Ola Aina. He has great potential, but with any young player you must work to put them in the first team.

"If one defender is injured or banned, then we are in trouble, but the club and me we know this and we are talking every day to improve the squad.

"We know that this market is very difficult. It's crazy. I don't want to buy only to buy. I want to buy the right profile for Chelsea, the right investment for the solution and for the future."

Chelsea have reportedly identified Wolfsburg defender Ricardo Rodriguez as a potential transfer target.