Chelsea boss Conte coy on link to Arsenal star Sanchez

ANTONIO Conte is reluctant to consider the possibility of Alexis Sanchez joining Chelsea as the head coach does not think the Blues are in the race to sign the Arsenal forward.

Sanchez is out of contract this summer and seemed certain to join Premier League leaders Manchester City this month.

But City on Monday ended their interest because of the costs involved, with Manchester United in pole position and Chelsea reportedly entering the bidding.

Conte last Friday spoke of his admiration for Sanchez and described any potential cut-price deal as a great opportunity.

Asked yesterday if the Premier League champions were actively seeking to sign Sanchez, Conte said: “I don’t know but I don’t think so.”

Pressed later, the Italian suggested discussing any move for Sanchez would be hypothetical, as he said: “I like to talk about situations that could be real. This is not important to talk about Sanchez. Because he’s not our good problem, so why do I have to waste words for nothing?”

Conte, speaking ahead of tonight’s FA Cup third-round replay at home to Norwich, repeated his role is to coach, not i n recruitment, which is the responsibility of the Chelsea hierarchy, notably director Marina Granovskaia.

Michy Batshuayi has been linked with a move away from Chelsea this month, with a loan to Sevilla a reported possibility.

Conte says the Belgium striker will play against Norwich.

“In the future I don’t know what happens, also because the final decision is for the club, not for me,” Conte added.

Chelsea have not won in 2018, drawing their last four games. The last three have been goalless but Conte reckons Chelsea’s luck will soon change.

He added: “We have to continue to work and maybe, then the game will arrive that you score a lot of goals. You shoot and you score, you shoot and you score.”

Conte plans to rotate his options but Ross Barkley is ineligible and Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas (both hamstrings) are out.

The Blues boss had pencilled Barkley into his squad but the midfielder was not signed from Everton by the required registration deadline to play i n the original tie at Carrow Road on January 6, so is unavailable.