Chelsea Manager admits he does not expect the club to be able to secure his first-choice Transfer targets before Wednesday's deadline

Chelsea have signed only two players since Conte’s arrival – Michy Batshuayi from Marseille and N’Golo Kante from Leicester City – despite the hierarchy having indicated this summer they expected to bring up to six significant signings into the club in the wake of last season’s 10th place finish.

Those efforts have been frustrated to date as time ticks down towards the cut-off. “I must be

honest, I think we’ll have a problem to reach our [transfer] targets” said Conte. “I still hope with this transfer market to improve the squad and the team with some new players, but we understand our targets are very difficult to reach. But we have a game against Burnley for now which is more important than the transfer market. Then, after that, I hope [moves are made to secure] some more players than now before the deadline.”

Chelsea cannot offer European football to prospective targets this season and, with only six days of the transfer window remaining, are chasing a number of alternative targets having missed out on Conte’s preferred choices. Bids for both Kalidou Koulibaly and Alessio Romagnoli were rejected by Napoli and Milan respectively this week with Conte, forced to improvise, having surprisingly turned his attention since to Alonso.

The 25-year-old boasts previous Premier League experience with Bolton – for whom he signed at 19 – and Sunderland during a loan spell in 2014. He would provide further cover for Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic at full-back, allowing the latter to shift into central defence should he be needed.

Conte’s desire for a further defensive additions could see two new recruits at Chelsea before Wednesday’s deadline. The knock sustained by the youngster Ola Aina in the midweek win over Bristol Rovers has potentially left the Italian with only four fully fit defenders for Saturday’s visit of Burnley, with Kurt Zouma still recovering from the knee ligament injury sustained this year.