Chelsea sold Oscar last summer for a fee worth £60m as the Brazilian joined Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai SIPG.

Conte’s agent, Federico Pastorello, admits his client was working on a deal to sign Antonio Candreva as replacement for Oscar but says Inter rejected Chelsea’s approach.

“This past January, Chelsea wanted to sign Antonio Candreva,” Pastorello told Rai Sport.

“They needed a replacement for Oscar and Antonio would have been a good one.

“However, he had just joined Inter and [Inter owners] Suning do not want to sell their best players.

“I don’t know if he’ll stay at Inter, I’ll talk to [Inter Directors] Ausilio and Sabatini [about his future].”