The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Chelsea told to ignore transfer talk
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has told his players to retain their focus as the transfer window nears.
The Blues boss had said he would welcome January reinforcements to add to his squad, while some of his players have been linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge.
Defender David Luiz and the leftsided Kenedy have been the subject of speculation suggesting they may leave the club.
“A difficult period is starting,” Conte said. “In this period there are a lot of rumours. Some rumours are true, some rumours are wrong.
“We have to play every three days and it’s not right that these rumours disturb us.
“My players are very clever to be focused on this period, to play, to go game by game, don’t listen to these rumours.
“We must be ready to face this situation. The best way for me is don’t read and only to chat with the club and then to try to improve our squad, if this is possible – if.”
Striker Alvaro Morata is suspended for today’s trip to face Everton, so Eden Hazard is likely to be deployed as a false nine.
Marcos Alonso is back from a ban, but Luiz (knee) and Charly Musonda (groin) are out.
Leaders Manchester City host Bournemouth today with captain Vincent Kompany facing a fitness test after a muscle injury.
The availability of playmaker David Silva, who has missed the past two games for personal reasons, is unclear but young midfielder Phil Foden is facing a spell on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage.
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has ruled Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick out of the frantic fixture schedule.
Tonight’s trip to Leicester kicks off a run of four league matches in 10 days as the Red Devils look to claw back City’s 11-point lead.
Antonio Valencia is out of the Foxes clash and United will have to do without Eric Bailly for a spell with an ankle injury.
Carrick has not played since undergoing a procedure to treat an irregular heart rhythm following September’s Carabao Cup win against Burton, while Fellaini has not played since November 25.