Chelsea transfer news: Antonio Conte misses out on another summer transfer target as Joao Cancelo moves to Inter Milan
Reigning champions looked threadbare in the defeat to Burnley and have two major suspensions for Sunday's Tottenham clash
ANTONIO CONTE has missed out on another summer transfer target as Joao Cancelo has snubbed Chelsea to join Inter Milan.
The Italian boss has endured a nightmare summer, stumbling into a raging war with Diego Costa and losing to Burnley on the opening day.
Conte’s reigning champions looked threadbare in the defeat to Shaun Dyche’s men with a bench largely made up of youth-team kids.
And regular social media posts and interviews with his want-away star striker – who is trying to force through an Atletico Madrid return – have caused unnecessary embarrassment.
And now Cancelo has cancelled any move from Valencia to Stamford Bridge – where he would have competed with right wing-back Victor Moses – for a San Siro switch.
Valencia boss Marcelino Garcia Toral confirmed after his team’s victory against Las Palmas at the weekend that his star defender has moved to Italy.
Conte has now claimed he needs FOUR YEARS to rebuild his Chelsea side – just months are racing away with the Premier League – and says they should emulate Sunday’s rivals Tottenham.
The Blues boss said: “I think Spurs are doing a great job, Mauricio Pochettino is doing a great job. He has built a great base and foundation for his club.
“We must do the same, we don’t have these bases. I have great respect for Tottenham. They are challenging for the title.
“I want to help my club build the same solid foundation.
“We don’t have this. We need time to work, to improve.
“I thought this season would be difficult, we lost a lot of strong players that built a strong base.
“John Terry, John Obi Mikel, Branislav Ivanovic — and now we need to find the right way to build.
“We must have patience to build for the future.
“Spurs have worked with Pochettino for three years, this is the fourth year.
“He has had the possibility to work for three years with the same players and the possibility every season to improve his foundations.
“But now it’s not enough, we have to improve, to extend this base, work together with new players.”