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Transfer misses won't stop Chelsea from contending in Premier League and Champions League says Eden Hazard

Chelsea signed Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta late, but missed out on Fernando Llorente, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ross Barkley amongst others

Monday 04 September 2017 11:39 BST

Eden Hazard is confident the champions have what it takes to challenge on all fronts this season (Chelsea FC)

Eden Hazard believes Chelsea boast a squad capable of challenging on all fronts, despite the Blues missing out on a number of transfer targets.

Chelsea sealed late deals for midfielder Danny Drinkwater and defender Davide Zappacosta, but boss Antonio Conte was gazumped by Tottenham for Fernando Llorente and Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

There was further frustration when Everton playmaker Ross Barkley pulled out of a deal to join the Blues at the last minute.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

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1/8Chelsea summer transfer targets

Chelsea summer transfer targets

1. Franck Kessie, Atalanta

The first of many Serie A players on the list is Atalanta’s Franck Kessie, who scored six goals in 32 in the league from central midfield. The 20-year-old is subject of an offer from Roma, but it is thought that Conte sees the energetic Ivorian as a good option for the coming season and could intervene if the player decides to leave. A sum of just over £20m is expected to be enough to secure Kessie’s signature.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

2. Radja Nainggolan, AS Roma

Fiery midfielder Nainggolan was the target of a Chelsea bid last summer, and it is thought that Conte could prise him away from Italy this time around, as part of a double swoop with Antonio Rudiger at £70m. He is a player the former Juventus manager knows very well, and would fit perfectly into Chelsea’s side with his combative style. While Roma will be desperate to avoid letting two key players go in one hit, it may be difficult to turn down the right offer.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

3. Alex Sandro, Juventus

Sandro is emerging as one of Europe’s finest left backs and the Juventus man will be high on Conte’s list of targets. He is far more mobile than Marcos Alonso and would unlikely find it difficult adapting to Conte’s methods, which are largely similar to that of current Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri. The player is also being tracked by Manchester City, and could cost upwards of £40m.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

4. David Stockdale, Brighton

Asmir Begovic is likely to leave Stamford Bridge in search of regular first-team football, and David Stockdale is an option for Chelsea. The 31 year-old keeper is out of contract this summer and helped his current club secure promotion to the Premier League this season. However, his error in the final game gifted Aston Villa an equaliser and Newcastle top spot in the Championship, and Stockdale later posted on twitter that he was ‘gutted to go out like that’ and thanked Brighton’s fans and staff, adding fuel to the fire over the exit rumours.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

5. Ben Gibson, Middlesbrough

Gibson’s stellar performances have been widely recognised over the course of this season and the 24-year-old centre back has worked his way into the England set-up. He is in a similar mould to the departing Terry and Conte is supposedly a big admirer of the £30m rated Middlesbrough man.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

6. Andrea Belotti, Torino

Another forward linked to Chelsea is Andrea Belotti, who at 23 has his best years ahead of him. The €100m release clause, applicable only to clubs outside of Italy, which was negotiated into his contract by club president Urbano Cairo, makes a move seem increasingly unlikely; nonetheless, the Italian is at the very least on Chelsea’s radar this summer.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

7. Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is thought to be seeking a move away from the Emirates this season after the Gunners’ disappointing campaign. He has stalled over signing a new contract, and with his current deal expiring next summer, Chelsea’s London rivals are at serious risk of losing their star man. While Wenger has insisted Arsenal no longer have to sell their best players, it could become a difficult situation if Sanchez wishes to stay in the capital and tries to force a move to Chelsea. Considering his contract situation, £55m could be enough to acquire the Chilean, with Bayern Munich apparently ready to offer exactly that at the start of the window.

Chelsea summer transfer targets

7. Fernando Llorente, Swansea

Antonio Conte has worked with Llorente in the past at Juventus and is keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge, though faces competition from Spurs.

Getty

Belgium star Hazard remains convinced however that Chelsea have the power to fight for silverware across the board - especially amid their return to the Champions League.

"I think this year will be no different from the previous years, in the sense that every year it is difficult, especially when you play in many competitions," he said. "This year we have the Champions League as well and it is not easy to succeed in multiple competitions. But we will do our best and we have got depth in our squad so sometimes maybe one or two players can rest so they are 110 per cent for the next competition.

"We just want to win as many trophies as possible, for me personally I haven't won the Champions League so maybe that one would be a little bit more special, but I would prefer us to win everything."

Hazard missed the start of Chelsea's new campaign owing to an ankle injury, but has returned to action with Belgium across the international break.

 Hazard is yet to play for Chelsea this season  (Getty)

The 26-year-old hailed Blues boss Conte as one of the world's top managers as the Stamford Bridge club set about defending their Premier League crown.

"I have a good relationship with all my managers," said Hazard. "You know we train every day together and we can talk together and laugh together. So yes absolutely we have a good relationship, I wouldn't say 'friends' because it is difficult to be friends with your manager so I wouldn't say that but we have a good relationship.

"I think we have got one of the best managers in the world. So we are really happy with him."

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