Signing defenders is hard in a 'crazy' market - Conte

The Italian can count on only four experienced defenders in his squad, but anticipates difficulty signing reinforcements owing to the inflation of the transfer window

Antonio Conte has declared that bolstering Chelsea's defensive ranks will be his main priority ahead of the Premier League transfer window deadline, but lamented how 'crazy' the market is.

Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta are the only experienced defenders within Conte's squad at present.

Conte has been targetting new defenders all summer given youngsters Matt Miazga, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ola Aina are among those providing back-up.

The situation is critical given Kurt Zouma is a long-term absentee after sustaining a ligament injury in February, though the club have so far failed to lure the likes of Leonardo Bonucci or Kalidou Koulibaly to Stamford Bridge.

"If you look now at the Chelsea squad you can see we have only four defenders, and these four defenders started today," Conte told reporters after Chelsea's 2-1 win at Watford. "[But] if [we have] one injury we are in trouble. 

"The club and me we know this and we are talking every day to improve the squad but we know also that it's very difficult in this market because it's crazy. 

"I don't want to buy just to buy, I want to buy the right player for Chelsea, for the present, for the future, with a good prospect. It's important we have a good investment for the future."

One player Conte is keen to hold onto is Cesc Fabregas, despite reports linking the midfielder with a return to Spain.

Fabregas started on the bench once again at Vicarage Road, the 29-year-old coming on for his first appearance of the season and setting up Diego Costa's winning goal.

"We all know Cesc, he's a great player with great technique and with a good pass and good assist," Conte added.

"I'm pleased, I'm pleased for Cesc because he's working very hard in training sessions to show me that he deserves to play. 

"It's important because I want to see this, all the players show me that they deserve to start the game and if they show the right commitment I'm a very happy manager.

"When you have many players that think for the team not themselves, it's important and I see this situation happening in Chelsea and it's good."

Guus Hiddink: Injury update on Eden Hazard, John Terry and Kurt Zouma

Attacking midfielder Eden Hazard will feature in today's away game against Bournemouth, interim manager Guus Hiddink revealed.

The Belgium international will play for the first since the Champions League exit Paris Saint-Germain but defenders John Terry and Kurt Zouma are still on the sidelines.

"He [Eden Hazard] is available and will travel."
- Guus Hiddink"He [Eden Hazard] is available and will travel," Hiddink told reporters.

"Not for the whole game, but he's available to play.

"This week he trained physically without any complaints, which is a good signal. He was very alive.

"[John Terry?] I like people to be involved in the team, sometimes we take more than the 18 on the list, sometimes we take youth players for experience,' the Blues boss explained.

"Also, John is very committed and he's annoyed about the injury. He desperately wants to be with the team.

"He has his treatment here and he's done individual training. I'm hoping he'll step up next week and we'll see how it goes for the last couple of games.

"If we play on Monday week he has to be training with the group by Thursday [to have a chance of playing]

"[Kurt] Zouma is working very hard, I like his spirit and the fact he's trying to come back as soon as possible, but of course not this season. He's a very tough and encouraging guy."

Predicted Chelsea lineup against Aston Villa: Ruben ready, four options for right back

Two weeks without proper club football has not made any of the decisions facing Jose Mourinho ahead of tomorrow's match any easier.  If anything, they made them a bit harder, as no one has really stood out.

"What I analysed in this period was that no player was better in the national team than they are with us, so it's not their habitat which is making them play better or worse. At this moment they are what they are, which gives me total confidence that it will be here that we will improve them and they will go back to their normality."

Which would hint at the tried and true, the same old-same old from Mourinho against Villa, right?  Will the real Chelsea title winners please stand up?  Well, not so fast, at least in a couple regards.

What we can be sure of are starts for Asmir Begovic, Cesar Azpilicueta, Kurt Zouma, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.  Young Loftus-Cheek was already penciled into the starting lineup following the Southampton loss, and at least so far, Mourinho has not gone back on his word.

"Ruben has been with us since January, working with us every day, having the opportunity to play some matches, having an evolution physically, mentally, tactically. I think he's going to be a really top player. He's ready."

Of the three starts that RLC has made this season, including the pre-season, two have come alongside John Obi Mikel, and one, in the Champions League, alongside Cesc Fabregas.  With Nemanja Matic out of form and in the doghouse -- though not permanently -- and Cesc carrying a somewhat undroppable status, it is he who's likely to start alongside the teenager.  Fabregas could of course push up to the no.10 spot, which would open another spot in central midfield for someone like Ramires, who had been training with the squad throughout the last two weeks.  Ramires could also start at the right back instead of the injured Branislav Ivanovic, but that seems a fairly far-fetched option.

"I have four solutions: I have Azpilicueta, I have the adaptation of Zouma or Ramires and I have Ola Aina, an 18-year-old who has never played a Premier League game but he's a boy with lots of potential. He's also an option."

With Baba Rahman unlikely to start in the Premier League (though I have hopes of seeing him in the Champions League in Kiev), it's quite likely that true to rumors, Kurt Zouma will deputize for our much maligned right back.  That's assuming Gary Cahill isn't suffering any ill effects of his apparently problematic back.

Zouma probably won't offer too much going forward, which I think might weigh in favor of a start for Pedro on the right wing, but Willian's got the goal-scoring touch lately and that should be enough to guarantee him a start as well.  This might leave Oscar out on the bench, but I wouldn't really be surprised by any combination of our attacking midfielders at this point as we search for answers.

With that in mind, here's our predicted lineup:

4-2-3-1:
Begovic | Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Zouma | Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas | Hazard, Willian, Pedro | Costa

In the community voting, you guys selected the following starting XI:

4-2-3-1:
Begovic | Baba, Cahill, Zouma, Azpilicueta | Loftus-Cheek, Matic/Fabregas (too close to call) | Hazard, Oscar, Willian | Costa

Which wouldn't be a bad prediction, had Mourinho hinted at any sort of action for Baba.  But he hasn't.  So, I suppose we'll have to wait and see.