For most Chelsea fans, a six-point lead at the top of the table is the greatest Christmas present of all.

But Antonio Conte keeps telling us how he wants his side to improve; so with the transfer window about to open, what could be on his Christmas wish list?

A defender is the main target.

Chelsea's stocks are shallow at the back, and main target Leonardo Bonucci has just signed a new five-year deal with Juventus.

With Kurt Zouma's long-awaited return still pending and Andreas Christensen a possible for next season, the Blues boss has no shortage of younger options.

Return: Kurt Zouma

But January is seldom about immediate impact: managers tend to search either for emergency stopgap players - not needed here, or longer term options.

Rumours about Burnley's Michael Keane simply won't go away: with latest reports suggesting Clarets are already lining-up replacements for him.

Being young and English, he won't be cheap – £25m the likely outlay.

Chelsea are also short of personnel at wingback, and here is somewhere a few hints have been dropped too.

Was it a blunder or a sign of things to come when the official club website last week listed loaned-out Kenedy with the squad number 12: in place of Mikel John Obi, who is expected to himself depart for Marseille?

When Conte was announced as boss his preference for wingbacks was known, and there was a good deal of chatter about how the Brazilian might be ideal in that role.

Chelsea's Kenedy (left) and Liverpool's Joe Allen (centre) battle for the ball

The new boss, however, decided he needed further development opportunities elsewhere.

But he struggled with injuries and form in the first half of the season at Watford, and is confirmed to have returned.

If he does remain at Chelsea, rather than being loaned back out, will he get the game time a developing 20-year-old really needs?

Conte could also do with cover in central midfield, and a holding man as back-up to N'Golo Kante could be on his Christmas list if Mikel is truly on his way out.

Inter Milan's French international Geoffrey Kondogbia is the name in the frame here: with the Italians said to be lining up Marseille's Lassana Diarra to complete the merry-go-round.

Option: Geoffrey Kondogbia

Up front, Chelsea's options are extremely limited: and we will get a better picture on Boxing Day of how they manage without Diego Costa.

But talk of a big money move for James Rodruigez, as a utility forward able to play on the wing or laying off the main man, seem wide of the mark.

At £75m, his value is overstated: and it would be a very strange investment for Chelsea to make in the January window – such marquee signings tend to be more a summer thing.

If all that goes to plan, there's just one other thing Conte could be doing with for Christmas: an extra shelf, on which to store all those manager of the month awards.

January looks likely to be a key month in the Blues' season.

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