The Russian owner held a meeting with the Chelsea boss this week
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has given boss Antonio Conte his backing in the January transfer window, after a meeting was held at the club’s Cobham training ground earlier this week.
It is understood the Italian had not be completely satisfied with the Blues’ transfer dealings during the summer and only N’Golo Kante was one of his original targets.
According to reports, Conte believes the Chelsea squad is outdated and feels that the team that won the Premier League two seasons ago, is not capable of title-winning form, despite a promising start to the season, that has since tailed off.
David Luiz and Marcos Alonso were late deadline day panic buys, as Conte was left short of defensive options, while it is understood Michael Emenalo, the club’s sporting director, sanctioned the purchased of Michy Batshuayi, from Marseille.
But despite Conte not being completely satisfied with the transfer business Chelsea did in the summer, they still spent £120 million in strengthening a squad that fell way short of their targets last season, finishing 10th in the league.
Conte’s right-hand woman, Marina Granovskaia, is being tasked with putting together potential January deals, while Abramovich has visited the club’s Cobham training ground on numerous occasions this season, to oversee the Italian’s first few months in charge.
But despite the Blues winning their first three games of the season, as well as their EFL Cup tie against Bristol Rovers, their form has since seen them slip to eight in the table, after back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool.
Abramovich will not have been convinced by recent results and further backing in January is seen as key step, if Chelsea are to return to the top four this campaign.
