Conte: Chelsea in transfer talks every day

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte said Friday that he holds talks every day with club bosses about transfer targets as the Premier League champions race to further bolster their squad. The Italian is set to give big-money signing Alvaro Morata his first Chelsea start against Inter Milan in a pre-season friendly in Singapore on Saturday and has also splashed out this summer on the defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco. But with most of Chelsea's Premier League rivals buying big in the close season, Conte is intent on adding to a squad that this season will also need to cope with Champions League football.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte makes Renato Sanches enquiry with Bayern star keen for move away | @MirrorDarren https://t.co/DvjfVwbjJQ pic.twitter.com/jNhs0PV7kg

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) July 28, 2017

The London side have been linked in British media with England international midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal and Everton's wantaway Ross Barkley. "With the club we speak every day about the way to strengthen this team and the squad," said Conte, talking in Singapore. "The club knows very well which is my idea and where are the positions to strengthen and if this is possible, it is ok. If not, we continue this way."

Antonio Conte's got two English midfielders in his sights, according to today's back pages.

Find out more https://t.co/N7q7rD1FZK #CFC pic.twitter.com/29g6X1oM8c

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 28, 2017

Conte said he plans to play his best side against Inter, with Morata -- signed last week from Real Madrid in a deal reported to be worth up to 80 million euros ($92m) -- likely to spearhead the attack from the start.

Antonio Conte has defended his youth policy at Chelsea and says academy players must be patient https://t.co/MQRCfwL4QB pic.twitter.com/7U0cIK4m0m

— Sky Sports PL ? (@SkySportsPL) July 27, 2017

Morata came on as a second-half substitute against German champions Bayern Munich in a friendly on Tuesday in Singapore and supplied an assist in a 3-2 defeat. With Arsenal looming in the Community Shield on August 6 at Wembley, Conte said: "It is very important to bring my players in a good fitness as soon as possible. For this reason, we play with the best starting 11 (against Inter)."

Antonio Conte: "If the ambitions are to fight for the title or try to win the Champions League, you must buy expensive players." pic.twitter.com/kaSvyDagsG

— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) July 28, 2017