Candreva is determined to fight for his place at Inter (Picture: Getty)

Antonio Candreva is set to deal Antonio Conte a fresh blow in what has been a frustrating summer for the Chelsea manager, according to the player’s agent.

Conte has been desperate to add further reinforcements to a squad which he has admitted is currently ill-equipped to mount a successful title defence and challenge in the Champions League.

The Italian manager has recruited Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger for a combined total well in excess of £100million but is determined to add another midfielder and wide player who is capable of playing at wing-back in his preferred 3-4-3 system.

Candreva would certainly appear to fit that bill and reports last month claimed Inter were prepared to sanction his sale for just £21million, despite having only signed the 30-year-old from Lazio last year.

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CHELSEA TRANSFERS IN

Willy Caballero (free, from Manchester City), Antonio Rudiger (£34m, from Roma), Tiemoue Bakayoko (£40m, from Monaco), Alvaro Morata (£60m, from Real Madrid)


CHELSEA TRANSFERS OUT

Juan Cuadrado (£17m, to Juventus), Christian Atsu (£6.2m, to Newcastle), Dominic Solanke (Compensation, to Liverpool), Asmir Begovic (£10m, to Bournemouth), Alex Kiwomya (free, to Doncaster), Bertrand Traore (£8.8m, to Lyon), Nathan Ake (£20m, to Bournemouth), John Terry (free, to Aston Villa), Tammy Abraham (loan, to Swansea), Alex Davey (released), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (loan, to Crystal Palace), Izzy Brown (loan, to Brighton), Marco van Ginkel (loan, to PSV), Nathaniel Chalobah (£5m, to Watford) Nemanja Matic (£40m, to Man Utd)

But the player’s agent insists the Italy international, who played under Conte for the Azzurri, has no intention of leaving Inter before the transfer deadline on August 31.

Federico Pastorello told Rai: ‘Candreva believes that he will stay.

‘His desire is to continue at Inter and the club and Spalletti have said the same.

‘So I believe this season he will remain at Inter, but in January Chelsea wanted him.’

 

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