I don't control transfers, says Chelsea's Conte

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said he has little impact on the club's transfer market activity after they were knocked out of the League Cup by Arsenal on Wednesday. Chelsea were beaten 2-1 in the second leg of their semi-final after taking the lead at the Emirates Stadium.

Edin Dzeko? Emerson Palmieri?

Antonio Conte has reiterated the Chelsea board will decide who will join the club in January, not him. ? pic.twitter.com/9OtnDfKhKE

— Goal UK (@GoalUK) January 25, 2018

The result capped a difficult period for the south London club, who have now failed to win six of their last seven games, discounting the penalty-shootout win over Norwich City in the FA Cup. The manager said his squad was under pressure due to a number of injuries and he was seemingly unhappy at a lack of activity in the transfer market.

This is brutal from Antonio Conte. pic.twitter.com/cJCWHC9wDs

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 25, 2018

"I don't have a big impact in the transfer market," he told reporters. "About the transfer market, from the summer there is the club and the club decides for every single player."

Antonio Conte takes another dig at Chelsea's transfer policy...
The bench vs. Arsenal:
- Eduardo (GK)
- Gary Cahill
- David Luiz
- Davide Zappacosta
- Danny Drinkwater
- Ross Barkley
- Michy Batshuayi pic.twitter.com/uaNcYJMaUb

— SportsJOE (@SportsJOE_UK) January 25, 2018

Chelsea have been linked with a move for AS Roma forward Edin Dzeko, and media reports in Italy on Wednesday said a deal was close. Chelsea have reportedly targeted several strikers in the January window, including Andy Carroll and Ashley Barnes, as Conte looks to ease the burden on Alvaro Morata. When asked about Dzeko, Conte reiterated that the situation was out of his hands. "I don't like to speak about the transfer market, the club decides our transfer market, as I said before my task is to try to improve my players," he said.

Let's help Conte find some inspiration for his January transfer targets ?️

Who is the BEST striker your club ever signed?! pic.twitter.com/f31YVtEUaQ

— Sun Bets (@SunBets) January 25, 2018