Conte is targeting the perfect players for summer boost

Conte is targeting the perfect players for summer boost

Having knocked Tottenham out of the FA Cup to book their place in the final over the weekend, Chelsea are back in Premier League action tonight as they look to tighten their grip on the title despite a stumble in recent weeks.

The Blues lost to both Crystal Palace and Manchester United before beating their closest title rivals in the Cup at the weekend, a result which many see as having putting the last nail in the coffin of Spurs’ title challenge.

Antonio Conte’s side face Southampton at Stamford Bridge tonight and, considering the Saints have nothing left to play for and given their performance against Manchester City last weekend, fans will be confident in west London.

With the title, and a potential Double, getting closer and closer for the Blues fans are starting to look ahead to what could come next season with Champions League football back at Stamford Bridge once again.

Looking ahead the Blues will need to add some serious mettle to their ranks in order to continue to compete on all fronts once again.

Conte has made it clear that there will have to be additions made and, with that in mind, reports have hinted that a top two summer targets have been decided on in former Chelsea youngster Romelu Lukaku and Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk.

The pair’s qualities are clear, the Everton striker is leading the goal-scoring charts in the Premier League, seven goals ahead of Chelsea top scorer Diego Costa, and the Dutch centre half was one of the standout performers in the top flight before his season ending injury following a foul from Leicester’s Jamie Vardy.

However, whilst they are two players at the peak of their career’s to date, there are other aspects of their characters which make them ideal additions for Champions League chasing Chelsea.

The Belgian striker is just 23, whilst the Saints skipper is still young for a defender at 25, meaning they are both reaching the time in their development when it becomes necessary to step up another level.

Furthermore, being young and yet to have featured at the top level of the Champions League, they will be hungry to succeed under Conte next season. Whilst Costa has been fantastic for the west Londoners, there is now a sense he could be off having been there and done it at the Bridge. That is not what Conte needs next season, he will need a squad who are all prepared to battle for a place in his XI and will be ready and waiting to take their chance when it comes.

Should Conte land the pair, along with a couple of other names to ensure he has enough depth, there is no reason the Blues cannot replicate their success on the continent.