Conte ready to sell Luiz
ANTONIO CONTE has opened the door for David Luiz to leave Chelsea this month – as long as a suitable replacement is coming the other way.
Luiz fears he may not get back into the first team when he returns from a knee injury, putting his place in Brazil’s World Cup squad at risk. And Conte says he does not want unhappy players at the club spoiling dressing-room unity.
But Luiz, who is back in training, will not be allowed to go unless the Blues can sign a replacement.
Conte said: “I was a player – I will understand if someone is worried for the World Cup. I will understand if someone is thinking in this way.
“I prefer to have players very happy to stay here than to have players that are unhappy. Because when you are unhappy you transfer this to the other players, to me and to my staff and I don’t like this. I like to avoid this situation.”
That has implications not just for Luiz, who will miss tonight’s clash with Arsenal but could return against Norwich in the FA Cup on Saturday, but also for Michy Batshuayi, who wants a loan move.
The Belgium striker has started only three league games since he joined from Marseille for £33million in July 2016, and his World Cup hopes are also under threat.
Conte said: “Batshuayi has played much more than last season. My task is to try to improve every single player in my squad.
“And when there is the right moment and the club ask me something about the transfer market I give my opinion.
“My expectation is for all the players to stay here and try to continue to work. It is impossible to sell one player or send one on loan unless we take another player.”
Arsene Wenger yesterday denied any interest in Luiz, who was benched by Conte amid rumours of a bust-up in November and has not been missed since Andreas Christensen replaced him, but Juventus are keeping tabs on his situation.
West Ham have twice tried to sign Batshuayi and may come in again if Chelsea make him available.
The Blues could still rival Manchester City for Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and are looking for defenders after missing out on Virgil van Dijk.
Conte, who has ruled out a move for veteran Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini but remains interested his Juventus team-mate Alex Sandro, does not expect his mobile to be buzzing this month. “My phone won’t ring – I changed the number,” he said. “But I am not involved in the transfer market. I am a coach. The transfer market is a task for the club.
“It is right for the club to be involved 100 per cent in the market and try to do the best for the team.
“I can give my opinion but the club decide on the players they want to buy, or invest in. I trust in my club.”