ANTONIO CONTE has told Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich not to waste his money paying crazy prices in the transfer market.
The Blues boss wants to add a defender and a forward to his squad but believes some clubs are asking up to £30m too much for players.
Napoli have so far refused to lower their demands of more than £50m for Kalidou Koulibaly, while Everton are also refusing to do business over Romelu Lukaku, who is rated at £75m.
But Conte also hinted that he believes prices may come down the closer the clock ticks to the end of the transfer window.
He said: “At this moment it’s very difficult to buy because, also, if you ask a player of the medium level, they might ask for £55m. For this reason, it’s a crazy market.
"It’s very difficult to enter the market with these prices and in this condition. No. I’m not comfortable. I don’t like to pay a lot of money.
"If a player deserves us to pay money, then it’s right. But for a medium player, it’s right to pay the right price, not £20-30m over. That’s not right.
"The money is not mine, but I don’t like it the same. I don’t find it right. That is why we are waiting for the right situation. We must be patient and wait.
"Not only for Chelsea. I saw also with the other clubs, it’s very difficult to have a good market.
"We have two weeks before the end of the transfer market. If we can improve this squad, we want to improve it.”
CALM DOWN: Conte admits he sometimes gets carried away
Conte also claims he might not be the best person to tell Diego Costa to calm down - because he was just as bad as a player.
Costa was lucky to escape a red card during Monday’s 2-1 win over West Ham but Conte joked that he was just as much at risk of falling foul with referees during his playing days.
The former Juventus and Italy midfielder said: “This is true. I risk in my past, sometimes, to be banned. I must tell myself to calm down first, and then the players!
"Sometimes it can seem that he is always on the edge when he plays. But I’m happy for his attitude, for his behaviour.
"I hope to continue like that, but we know that he must pay attention in all situations.
"Sometimes when many people talk about one player, it’s very difficult for the player to play in a relaxed way.”
Conte comes face to face with a blast from his past when Chelsea travel to Watford.
He famously feuded with Watford boss Walter Mazzarri when the pair were battling each other for the Serie A title with Juventus and Napoli, and once even refused to shake hands.
But Conte said: “When you fight for the title everyone thinks about his own club. But the relationship is very normal. I have great respect for him. I will shake his hand, no problem.”
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