LUKAKU
Chelsea will
come up against one of their summer transfer targets when Everton visit
Stamford Bridge on Saturday but manager Antonio Conte insists he has no regrets
over his failure to sign Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian forward, who was sold by
the Blues to their Merseyside rivals in 2014, is in a rich vein of form and
sits second in the Premier League top goalscorers' chart with seven.
However, given the only man above
Lukaku is Chelsea striker Diego Costa, Conte has good reason not to be
concerned about missing out on the 23-year-old earlier this year.
PREMIER LEAGUE TOP SCORERS
2016-17
8: Diego Costa (Chelsea)
7: Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Sergio
Aguero (Manchester City)
6: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
And the Italian manager had plenty
of praise to dish out to eight-goal Costa, too.
'We have Diego, who is playing
fantastic football - not only scoring goals but working a lot and very well for
the team,' he said.
'I am seeing a complete player in
Diego and it is fantastic for me and the team to have him in the team, and also
because he is scoring a lot.
'I regret for nothing.
'I like to talk about my players and not players of other
teams. Lukaku is for sure a good player, he is young and he is scoring a lot.
It is right to talk about my players.
'I hope Diego continues in this way
because his commitment is incredible.'
Chelsea will go in search of a fifth
successive Premier League victory when the Toffees arrive in west London for
the late kick-off on Saturday.
Cesc Fabregas and Kurt Zouma will not be available to Conte
for the fixture but they are expected to return after the upcoming
international break.
Zouma's comeback in particular will
be well received by all at Stamford Bridge following his long lay-off with a
knee injury.
'Cesc Fabregas and Kurt Zouma have
started to train with the team and it is very important,' said Conte, who
side-stepped questions about Fabregas' future at the club amid speculation he
could be allowed to leave on loan in January.
'It's normal that when you start
after a long period of rest you need to find the best form or the best shape
and I think after the international break they will be available for selection.
'I'm pleased for Cesc because Cesc
is important for us, and also for Kurt. I'm pleased for him. He played two
games with the Under 23s and he will play another game on Tuesday (against
Oxford United in the Checkatrade Trophy).'
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