Antonio Conte disappointed Chelsea didn’t sign these two players – reporter
Antonio Conte will have been disappointed Chelsea didn't sign Virgil van Dijk or Romelu Lukaku this summer, says Dominic Fifield
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will have been disappointed to miss out on the signatures of Virgil van Dijk and Romelu Lukaku in the summer transfer window, according journalist Dominic Fifield.
The Blues were heavily linked with a host of players throughout the summer transfer window but they were unable to tie up deals for Van Dijk or Lukaku.
Chelsea ended up signing six players in the summer after securing the arrivals of Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Alvaro Morata, Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater.
The west London side were linked with Lukaku but the striker ended up signing for Manchester United from Everton, while defender Van Dijk remained at Southampton.
And Guardian reporter Fifield believes that Conte will have been frustrated to miss out on the duo.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement show, Fifield said: “I think the hierarchy will look back and think: ‘We’ve not had a bad window’.
“They’ve spent £180m and recouped a fair chunk, and their squad is perhaps marginally stronger than in May.
“But I think Conte wanted it to be a lot stronger and he’ll be disappointed that they haven’t got a Virgil Van Dijk or a [Romelu] Lukaku in. Alex Sandro as well.
“He wanted all these players, and that level of tension that’s been there all summer will continue to simmer.”
Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday when they take on Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
