Antonio Conte has refused to comment on reports linking Chelsea with Edin Džeko and Peter Crouch.
It follows reports that Chelsea are discussing a possible deal to sign former Manchester City forward Džeko from Roma and have also enquired about Stoke’s former QPR striker Crouch.
Blues boss Conte has consistently refused to comment on transfer speculation and there was no change at a media conference on Friday.
Asked about Džeko, he replied: “As you know very well, I think it is not right to talk about players of another team.
“There is a transfer market in this period and if something happens you are the first to know the news.”
And, asked about reports linking Crouch, 36, with a possible move to Stamford Bridge, Conte said: “My answer is the same. I am not interested in this conversation, also because it is disrespectful for my players and for the player of another club.”
With Chelsea having also recently been linked with the likes of Tottenham’s Fernando Llorente and West Ham’s Andy Carroll, Conte was even reluctant to confirm he is keen to bring in a target man in order to give his team an aerial presence up front.
“In this moment I can talk about my players, not talk about the characteristics of other players,” he said.
This post was last modified on 19/01/2018