Comments from Chelsea boss Antonio Conte look to have dealt a major blow to West Ham United’s reported January transfer plans.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers look set for a busy January after a torrid second season so far under Slaven Bilic.
The East Londoners sit 17th in the Premier League, just one point and place off the relegation zone a third of the way into the season.
Injuries have hindered Bilic’s side this season but a terrible summer of transfer activity is just as culpable as West Ham’s first season at their new 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium home has turned into something of a farce.
Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas clashes with West Ham players last season
Bilic has been linked with a move for Chelsea outcast Cesc Fabregas who has not been featuring regularly under new Blues boss Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.
The Mirror reported last week that the Hammers were keen on a loan deal for the 29-year-old Spanish playmaker to help take the pressure of star man Dimitri Payet.
But now Conte has told Italian sports outlet Gazzetta dello Sport he will not allow Fabregas – or fellow midfielder Oscar – to leave the title hopefuls in the upcoming window.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and West Ham United boss Bilic
“It’s gossip, I’m not going to send them (Fabregas and Oscar) away,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“They’re important players for Chelsea… it’s premature to talk about it, the squad is complete.”
Fabregas could link up well with Dimitri Payet
With Chelsea surging to the top of the table after flourishing under Conte’s 3-4-3 formation the Italian is right to be cautious about tinkering with his squad.
A decent bid for a permanent transfer could tempt Chelsea to sell Fabregas, though, and would be a real statement from the Hammers given the former Barcelona man is the same age Payet was when he joined for a bargain £10 million.
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