We are attractive!

Conte says Stamford Bridge remains a marquee destination

LONDON: Antonio Conte (pic) insists Chelsea can still attract the world’s best players despite the chaotic conclusion to their transfer window.

Conte spent much of the close season grumbling about Chelsea’s failure to land his top targets after watching Manchester United beat him to Romelu Lukaku’s signature.

Despite the signings of Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger, Conte felt his squad was desperately short of strength in depth following the departures of John Terry and Nemanja Matic among others.

Ahead of last week’s transfer deadline, Chelsea tried to ease their manager’s concerns, only to see their bids produce surprisingly mixed results.

While Chelsea succeeded with swoops for Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater and Torino defender Davide Zappacosta, Conte was left frustrated by snubs from England internationals Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Barkley opted to stay at Everton despite Chelsea agreeing a fee for the midfielder, while Oxlade-Chamberlain turned down the Blues to join Liverpool.

Scratching around for last-ditch deals is hardly fitting for the reigning English champions but Conte is adamant Stamford Bridge remains a marquee destination.

Asked if he was surprised to be rejected by Barkley and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Conte said: “Don’t forget one English player signed. If I’m not mistaken, Drinkwater is an English player. We are happy with him.

“Two new players arrived in the transfer market.

“It’s time to work together, to work with these new players and adapt them quickly.”

Reports claimed Conte had been told by Chelsea not to speak to Barkley after a chat with Oxlade-Chamberlain about his plan to use him at wing-back allegedly disheartened the England international.

But Conte laughed that off and made it clear players were ready to join a club of Chelsea’s stature regardless of the sales pitch from the boss.

“I don’t want to speak about my England experience but when I was Juventus manager every single player wanted to come,” he said.

“If they speak with the coach it’s not important. They’ve already decided to come to a great club.

“When I moved from Lecce to Juventus, the Juventus chairman called me, not the manager. He spoke to me and also my mother.

“I was 21 years old. In my case, the chairman wanted to make my mother have the right feeling for this transfer. For the mother to lose one son is not easy.”

I don’t want to speak about my England experience but when I was Juventus manager every single player wanted to come. Antonio Conte