Antonio Conte looking at home-grown talent at Arsenal and Everton next?

According to various reports, Antonio Conte is looking to Arsenal and Everton to bolster our ranks of home-grown talent in the squad with eyes on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ross Barkley. 

With Gary Cahill being the only British born player left in our starting eleven, in addition to the sale of some of our youngsters this summer, it's clear that we need to invest in home-grown talent now ahead of the new season. The problem is that with any summer, quality signings from English clubs will cost you considerably more than from abroad, especially if those players play for clubs that would be described as rivals for the top-four or the top-six.

Being honest, there isn't alot of British talent that is available out there. OK, Kyle Walker was someone that Antonio Conte has admitted that he was interested in BUT not for the price that Manchester City paid Tottenham to sign him. As for the rest, there are names that are up and coming but not right for Chelsea at the moment if you look at some of the big money moves made within the Premier League.

So to the possibility that a couple of English players with obvious talent are looking to move from their current clubs this summer and are of reported interest from Antonio Conte.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 

In my opinion, missing out on Danilo is no big deal as far as I am concerned because from what I watched of "The-Ox" last season playing as a wing-back on the right hand side for Arsenal really impressed me.

OK, just as with Victor Moses last season, he would need to work on the defensive aspect of his game but that would come in time working with the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso. It's the ability that he has with the ball at his feet that excites me, coupled with his amazing speed which could prove to be the difference in my view.

As far as I can see there are two main stumbling blocks over a potential move. The first is the obvious issue of Arsenal selling one of their players to a direct rival. Would they deem a move for Oxlade-Chamberlain to Chelsea as strengthening one of their opponents?

The second issue is the player himself who, if reports are true, wants to leave Arsenal because he wants to play in his favoured position which is in central midfield. Could the possibility to come to Chelsea and work under Antonio Conte as a wing-back appeal to him?

It's believed that Arsene Wenger would listen to offers of around £25m for him. If it was me, I'd sign him ASAP!

Ross Barkley: 

The gifted Everton midfielder has refused to sign a new contract and new boss Ronald Koeman has revealed that he will be leaving the club 100% this summer and before the transfer window closes. So what of the obvious natural talent he has, is he someone that would be able to find his identity under Antonio Conte?

There is little doubt of his quality, the doubts I have is of his work rate and commitment to the cause in games. As we all know, the modern footballer has to work just as hard these days without the ball as they do with it. Everyone under Antonio Conte knows of his demands and what is expected of them defensively and I just wonder if he is prepared to put the graft in over ninety minutes?

Just look at how Cesc Fabregas struggled to get regular starts in the first team last season with the manager relying on two holding central midfielders with two wing-backs to allow us to almost play with two number tens supporting the central striker. Could Ross Barkley forge his way into the managers plans?

I see Barkley more of your Frank Lampard type of midfielder, drifting into the box making a late run if he came here. Chelsea would need to switch their formation to accomodate someone like him but with the talent and ability he has, Antonio Conte would work hard to make it work.

Conclusions:

I see both players as good, important acquisitions if we were able to sign them ahead of the window closing. I believe that if approached, both would be willing to at least listen to what the manager had to say before making a decision.

Both are home-grown which now more than ever this season is important and they would bolster the number in our squad.

Both would be signed for in excess of £25m per player and in my view, would be good investments.

What do you people think?

Article Source: Daily Mail.