Chelsea transfer news: Conte’s striker search takes bizarre twist

Chelsea have already signed Ross Barkley this month but Antonio Conte is determined to bolster his options for the second half of the season, particularly in attack.

The Italian wants to ease the burden on Alvaro Morata and has prioritised the need for a new striker after running out of patience with current deputy, Michy Batshuayi.

We round-up all the biggest stories associated with Conte’s side over the past week, and there are some good ones!

‘Injury rules out Andy Carroll move’

It emerged at the start of the week that Chelsea were considering a shock loan move for Andy Carroll despite the fact the West Ham striker has only scored two goals this season.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Conte was on the market for a certain type of frontman and, having missed out on a reunion with Fernando Llorente in the summer, moved his attentions to another monstrous striker, Carroll.

Chelsea were reportedly in talks with the Hammers, despite David Moyes insisting otherwise, over a loan or permanent move this month but a serious ankle injury suffered by Carroll in midweek has killed negotiations.

The 29-year-old, who was keen to join Conte’s side, is waiting to discover whether he requires surgery or not, which could put him out of action for as long as four months.

Only three players are winning more aerial duels per game than Carroll in the Premier League this season (5.8).

‘Chelsea make shock inquiry for Peter Crouch’

Chelsea have wasted no time in sounding out alternative transfer targets in the wake of Andy Carroll’s latest injury but it came as a huge surprise on Thursday evening that Antonio Conte’s side had approached Stoke about Peter Crouch’s services.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Chelsea are interested in the idea of loaning Crouch until the end of the season when they will have the chance to make a proper assessment of their squad and act accordingly.

Crouch turns 37 this month and a move to Chelsea would arguably be one of the most incredible transfers in Premier League history, having spent the last seven years battling for a starting berth at Stoke.

However, new Stoke manager Paul Lambert tends to build his teams around target men and losing Crouch would almost certainly require the Potters to dip into the transfer market for a replacement.

Crouch has, unsurprisingly, scored more headed goals than any other Premier League player since the start of the 2009/10 campaign (29).

‘Conte refuses to rule out interest in Edin Dzeko’

Peter Crouch isn’t the only striker on Antonio Conte’s January wish list, as the Chelsea manager was probed further about the club’s approach in this month’s transfer market during his news conference on Friday.

While news broke of Chelsea’s interest in Crouch, it was also being reported by Gianluca Di Marzio that the defending Premier League champions were interested in the prospect of bring Roma striker Edin Dzeko back to the Premier League.

Dzeko, 31, has spent the last three years at Roma after leaving Manchester City in 2015 and has developed into one of the best goalscorers in Italy during that period.

Chelsea are already in talks with Roma for left-back Emerson Palmieri and are the Blues are now attempting to negotiate Dzeko into the deal at the cost of a combined £44m.

However, when quizzed on whether Chelsea are pursuing the Bosnia international, Conte remained tight lipped.

“As you know very well, I think it’s not right to talk about players of other teams,” The Independent quote Conte as saying on Friday. “I’m not interested in it. There is a transfer market in this period and if something happens you are the first to know the news.”

Dzeko has struggled to hit the same heights this season than he managed in his first two years in Italy, but has still scored nine times in the league.

In fact, only Gonzalo Higuain (69), Mauro Icardi (58), and Ciro Immobile (48) have scored more Serie A goals than Dzeko in the last three seasons.

‘Ross Barkley in line for Chelsea debut on Saturday’

Ross Barkley was denied the opportunity to make his Chelsea debut in Wednesday’s FA Cup third round replay against Norwich after joining the Blues after the date of the original tie, but Antonio Conte has confirmed he will travel with the team to Brighton on Saturday.

The former Everton midfielder has not played since the end of last season after suffering a serious hamstring injury in pre-season that wiped him out for the first five months of the current campaign.

Barkley lacks match fitness but is over his injury and Conte has confirmed the 24-year-old will form his matchday squad away to Brighton on Saturday, although was coy on his chances of featuring.

“Ross is in a good physical condition,” ESPN quote Conte as saying on Friday. “Yesterday he played 70 minutes in a friendly game. Tomorrow he’s in the squad. He’s coming with us.

“I don't know if during the game I decide to give him the chance to play a part of the game or I want to wait [to see] if the game doesn’t ask for this type of situation. But he’s in the squad. He needs to continue to improve, to work with us, in our idea [of football].”

Barkley’s creativity could be exactly what Chelsea need at the moment as they have only managed to score one goal in their last four outings and will be without Alvaro Morata on Saturday after he was sent off in midweek.

In the last two campaigns prior to this one, Barkley created 19 clear-cut goalscoring chances in the Premier League, the most of any English player in that period.

‘Talks continue for Roma defender Emerson’

While it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will be successful in their attempts to sign Edin Dzeko as part of a double Roma swoop, the Blues are on course to land Emerson Palmieri as Antonio Conte finally edges closer to signing another left-back.

Chelsea have been chasing Alex Sandro since the end of last season but have grown frustrated of Juventus’ demands despite the fact the Brazilian defender would like to leave the club. Instead of caving to their Italian counterparts, Chelsea have simply moved on.

It was thought Conte’s side would seek a loan move with an option to buy as Emerson has only just returned from a serious knee injury, but BBC Sport are now reporting that the reigning Premier League champions are closing in on a permanent deal worth £20m.