LLOR BLIMEY

Conte misses out again as Spurs nip in to sign Swansea striker Fernando

ANTONIO CONTE outwitted them all on the pitch last season to win the Premier League.

But his rivals have struck back emphatically in the transfer market.

And an unwanted hat-trick was completed yesterday when Chelsea’s move for Fernando Llorente was hijacked by Tottenham.

Relations between Conte and the Chelsea hierarchy could be even more strained after Llorente, Romelu Lukaku and Alex OxladeChamberlain combined to hand the Blues boss a treble blow.

Conte first lined up a reunion with his former Juventus target man Llorente in January. Talks were revived this window and Swansea earmarked striker Wilfried Bony to return to the Liberty Stadium and replace him.

But once again all Conte ended up with was more frustration after Mauricio Pochettino (right) nicked Llorente from under his nose.

Spurs made their move late on Wednesday and wrapped up the deal in double quick time after offering

slightly higher £12million fee for Llorente than Blues.

That will reignite tension between the London rivals – Chelsea poached Willian when he was on the brink of joining Spurs four years ago.

And it made it a transfer setback treble for Conte at the hands of his title challengers. The first was in July when Chelsea did all the running for Everton’s Lukaku but he joined Manchester United instead.

They made the first move for Oxlade-Chamberlain too, agreeing a £40m deal with Arsenal this week. But the England international decided on Liverpool.

Conte had already moaned at the failure to seal deals. Llorente’s snub will have him fuming even more.