Fernando Llorente wants to join Antonio Conte at Chelsea on one condition

Fernando Llorente is interested in a move to Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Fernando Llorente reportedly is ready to complete a transfer to Chelsea as long as he is promised one thing by Antonio Conte.
It’s understood the Blues are considering either a permanent or loan move for the 31-year-old Swansea City striker who Conte is an avid admirer of from his time at Juventus.
The Telegraph suggest Llorente is keen on a switch to Chelsea as long as the Italian manager is able to guarantee that he’s only behind Diego Costa in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
Such a move is likely to see summer signing Michy Batshuayi go out on loan after the forward’s disappointing start to life with the Premier League giants.
Swansea have expressed an interest in Batshuayi but the 23-year-old would prefer to remain in London and join up with West Ham for the remainder of the campaign.
Ahead of the January transfer window, Conte admitted: ‘It’s important to talk with my club for sure.
‘There are some positions that, if we are able to find a resolution, it’s important to take a good solution. It wont be easy but, for sure, we are talking about this.’

Antonio Conte labels threat of Chelsea points deduction a 'joke'

Antonio Conte has laughed off suggestions Chelsea could face a points deduction for their conduct in the mass brawl following their 3-1 win at Manchester City.

Diego Costa's fifth goal in six games secured the Blues' ninth consecutive Premier League win on Sunday, a gritty 1-0 victory over West Brom at Stamford Bridge.

It has been reported Chelsea face the prospect of becoming the first side to be docked points over disciplinary issues since Arsenal and Manchester United in 1990, for their conduct at the Etihad Stadium on December 3.

Blues manager Conte rejected the notion, though, insisting he has been at pains for Chelsea to clean up their act.

"Are you joking? Are you joking?" asked Conte when quizzed on the prospect of Chelsea being docked Premier League points.

City players Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were sent off in the melee that followed Chelsea's win in the north-west.

Aguero's horror tackle on David Luiz sparked the unrest that could now see Chelsea losing points for the on-pitch scuffles.

Both Manchester City and Chelsea were charged with failing to control their players. And the Blues' fifth such charge in 19 months could see the FA imposing a points deduction.

Chelsea were last fined for failing to control their players following the ill-tempered London derby with Tottenham at the end of last term.

Reports have now indicated the Blues were then issued a warning in writing that any further breaches of discipline could lead to the club losing league points.

Conte, however, has insisted he remains unfazed by such talk, claiming he is in the process of cleaning Chelsea's house on the discipline front.

"For me, if you are involved in a situation and the fault is not your one, you must pay? Why? I don't understand this," Conte added.

"Manchester City and Chelsea, at the end of the game, my players tried to keep their calm. I don't understand this. I repeat, I don't understand this.

"We are trying to improve in all aspects, also in this area. For this reason, I reply: you must be joking. You must be honest and understand which team is at fault.

"We had a bad record in the past, but now we are different. I think that, in every game, you fight a lot during 90 minutes and, when the referee whistles at the end, it's important to finish.

"I don't know what happened in the past. I know what happened in the present. For this reason, I ask if you are joking or not. After the game between City and Chelsea, you could see very clearly that my players tried to keep their calm."

Costa's 12th goal of the campaign handed Chelsea their ninth Premier League win on the spin, the Spain hitman robbing West Brom's Gareth McAuley before blasting past Ben Foster.

Chelsea have a tangible chance to break their record Premier League winning streak of 11 matches, with Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Stoke all still to come this month.

Arsenal boast the all-time Premier League winning run with 13, but Conte has remained unmoved by the Blues' tilt at rewriting the history books.

"I'm not interested in the record," said Conte, with Chelsea topping the table.

"I'm interested in gaining three points in every game because that means we can stay top of the table, and fight for something important."

Conte believes Costa's apparent new-found ability to negotiate the disciplinary tightrope backs up his assertion that Chelsea are turning over a new leaf.

Costa has not been booked since Chelsea's last league loss, the 3-0 reverse at Arsenal on September 24, leading Conte to cross his fingers the forward can avoid any censure for the rest of the month.

"January is arriving no? It's incredible," said Conte of Costa's run without any bookings. "After the Arsenal defeat Diego had four yellow cards and was on the edge."

Hard work paying off for Chelsea, says Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte has hailed Chelsea's work ethic after they recorded a fourth straight clean sheet in their 2-0 victory at Southampton.

Goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa ensured Chelsea left St Mary's with all three points on Super Sunday.

Chelsea are yet to concede since switching to three centre-backs, having been dispatched 3-0 by Arsenal the last time they lined-up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Conte's side now sit in fourth place in the Premier League - just one point behind leaders Manchester City, who are ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal on goal difference.

"I'm very happy because I saw great commitment and work-rate during the game from all the players, with and without the ball," Conte told Sky Sports "This is the right way to play, because when we work together against a very strong team, I think that I as the coach must be very happy after this performance."

"It's fantastic that for a fourth game we did not concede a goal, and also we scored two goals and created many chances. We are working very hard."

Following Chelsea's 4-0 win over Manchester United last week, Conte refused to admit his side were title contenders, and the Italian remained equally coy after their latest win.

"I have the same opinion," Conte added. "Now it's early to answer and speak about title contenders, I repeat that we must work very hard to continue because this is the right way, but we can and must improve.

"After the first part of the season I can tell more about this run."

"We played against United and scored early as well, but when you play away it's different because the home support push the team, but our supporters were saying great things.

"They were fantastic from the first minute until the end. I want to say thank you to our support, from me and my players, because we won this game together - the players on the pitch, and the supporters as well."

Chelsea not concerned with Premier League title - Conte

Antonio Conte insists that Chelsea are not looking at the Premier League table after an impressive 2-0 win over Southampton lifted the Blues back to within a point of leaders Manchester City.

Goals in each half from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were enough to end the Saints' nine-match unbeaten run at St Mary's and secure Chelsea a fourth consecutive Premier League victory, while Thibaut Courtois has now not conceded a goal in 410 minutes of action since Conte switched to a 3-4-3 system.

The nature of the result and manner of the performance reinforced the belief among many observers that Chelsea are once again serious contenders for the Premier League title. However Conte says no one at Stamford Bridge is looking as far ahead as May.

"At this moment, it's not important for us to look at the table," Conte said. "We are in a good position, but it's not important. It's more important to work very hard and trust the work will improve us. Sometimes you can win a game but you don't see it happening in the right way.

"Now, game by game, I'm seeing a lot of possibilities. I have confidence because we can improve. We can improve a lot. The only way that we must know now is to continue to work. Not look at the table.

"If you ask me a prediction or an expectation of our championship, now it's very difficult to talk about this. It's important to pass many games, particularly in the first part of this season, and then you can see if you can stay up there in the title race.

"When you start the second part, our ideas will be more clear. We are working a lot. I'm seeing a lot of positive things in the team. We are not looking at the table, just continuing to work."

onte insists he will not begin to evaluate his team's title chances until he has negotiated the busy Christmas schedule, but the Italian was still keen to praise the latest in a series of convincing Chelsea performances.

"I saw a lot of positive things," Conte added. "Above all because we played against a strong team in a good moment of form. To come here and win wasn't easy.

"I'm pleased with the commitment, the work rate, to see my players worked very hard during the game with and without the ball. I think this is the right way, to reach great satisfaction in this championship. But we know that the road is long.

"Today Diego Costa and Hazard scored again. We created many chances to score more goals. Also, for four games, we have kept clean sheets. That's fantastic because it means the confidence is increasing. The players, I think, deserve this because I see them every day, the way they are working.

"It's important to arrive this type of result and performance because, in this way, they can trust more in the work."