Conte not getting drawn into ‘crazy’ bidding war

Antonio Conte insists Chelsea will wait patiently to make further moves in the transfer market thanks to the “crazy” prices being quoted this summer.

The Italian, who will lead his new side in a competitive game for the first time when West Ham visit Stamford Bridge on Monday night, has already spent more than £65million bringing in Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi and Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante.

But the former Juventus boss, who won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juve, insists he will wait to make further forays into the market due to the high prices being set by selling clubs.

“Every single club wants to improve because they want to fight for the title and I think that Chelsea is waiting for the right solution,” said Conte.

“In this moment it’s not easy for us but I think for all the clubs, this is a crazy transfer market. The price is high in general and this market is a bit crazy, because when you try to buy one or another player the cost is very expensive and not the real valuation for the player.

“It’s a very strange situation now but we are waiting on the right solution for the club.”

(Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

One move which Conte hopes to prevent is Nemanja Matic’s proposed exit from Chelsea. His former club Juventus are rumoured to be interested in the 28-year-old.

The Serbian midfielder has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer following the signing of Kante.

But Conte stressed Matic remains in his plans.

He said: “Nemanja is an important player for me, and he knows this. There isn’t a problem with him – Nemanja was a Chelsea player and is a Chelsea player.

“I speak a lot with my players. Usually when you arrive at a new club it’s important to get to know the players.

“It’s important to speak with all the players, to understand, to listen, [and to find out] why the last season was so bad.

“Because for the coach, arriving for the first time, it’s important to go inside, into the head of the players to understand and solve the situation.”