Antonio Conte knows he needs to spend at Chelsea this summer but is becoming frustrated by what he calls a “crazy” transfer market.
The Blues are in need of major investment from billionaire owner Roman Abramovich after their worst campaign since the Russian took over the club in 2003.
He has already got the chequebook out to sign Marseille’s Michy Batshuayi for £33million and secured Leicester City’s N’Golo Kante for £30million.
But Chelsea sources have claimed that Conte has asked Abramovich to land him as many as four more signings this summer as part of his rebuilding process.
Another striker and a central defender are top of Conte’s shopping list during the transfer window but prices are spiralling out of control across world football.
Napoli goal-machine Gonzalo Higuain, who had been monitored by the Blues, was yesterday sold to Juventus for a staggering £75.3million.
That makes the Argentine the third most expensive footballer of all time and Manchester United look set to make Paul Pogba the No 1 on that list in the coming days.
Jose Mourinho has submitted in a bid well in excess of £85million Real Madrid paid for Tottenham’s Gareth Bale.
Money is being pumped into the Chinese league again this year, inflating prices further, and a bumper new TV deal has left Premier League clubs with money to burn.
"This season we are seeing a crazy market. It's incredible," Conte said during a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s friendly with Liverpool tonight.
"I don't know if this situation can continue. It's very difficult for all the teams to try and buy the players. Now, we are starting to speak about 100 million, 120 million, 95 million, and these prices are incredible.
Chelsea train at UCLA before facing Liverpool:
"But this is football now. It's important that we must maintain the passion. This is the most important thing, to transfer our passion and transfer it to fans and players.
"The money is important but not everything. It is important for the clubs to reach the right targets not to spend because we want to spend money.
"It's right to take the player and adapt to our idea of football."
The arrival of Kante had been seen as a signal that towering central midfielder Nemanja Matic would be allowed to leave Chelsea.
Juventus have been linked with a move for the Serbian as a replacement for the outgoing Pogba.
Matic this week remained bullish about his Blues future and manager Conte last night gave the player assurances that he would not be sold.
"He is not for sale and I know with work he can become a fantastic midfielder, one of the best in the world," Conte added.
"He is a very important player for me, he is very important in my idea of football. He knows this and I'm delighted by his attitude and behaviour and I see in him commitment."
Watch the story of Mourinho's crazy transfer business so far:
