Thursday 31 October 2019 15:06, UK
Cesc Fabregas and Oscar will not be allowed to leave Chelsea in the January transfer window, according to Antonio Conte.
Spain midfielder Fabregas has struggled with injuries so far this season and has not managed to hold down a spot in Conte's starting line-up when fit, while Oscar has not started a Premier League match since the Italian decided to shift to a 3-4-3 formation.
Reports suggest that Juventus are interested in Oscar, while Serie A rivals AC Milan are keen on signing Fabregas but Conte has dismissed claims they could leave and suggested he is not looking to add to his squad during the next window.
"It's gossip, I'm not going to send them away," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "They're important players for Chelsea.
"A defender in January? It's premature to talk about it, the squad is complete."
Conte also spoke about some of the key players this season who have helped Chelsea move to the top of the Premier League after winning six games in a row without conceding.
He heaped praise on Pedro, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard and said he could not understand why Victor Moses had not previously been a regular at Stamford Bridge.
"I could see his potential from the first days of the summer training camp. Moses has important qualities: technique, physical strength, the ability to cover 70 metres of the pitch. I find it incredible that someone like him has been underestimated," he said.
"Pedro? He has qualities of absolute excellence. He's perfect for the 3-4-3. As for Diego Costa, Diego is one of the best strikers in the world. For us it's not just important that he's a goalscorer, but that he works for the team. The progression in his behaviour is thanks to his application. He realised he had to grow in terms of his temperament.
"Eden Hazard? Eden's talent is beyond question, he's a world-class player and a great lad. He has a surprising maturity for his age. He's already built a family and he's only 25."
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