Photo: Chelsea FC

Chelsea made our first foray into the January transfer window by signing Ross Barkley from Everton on a five-and-a-half-year contract.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is happy the deal for Barkley was completed early as opposed to leaving it towards the end of the month.

Conte explained completing deals early helps him work with the players quickly.

“This is true,” Conte said.

“It’s very important for me to work with the players quickly and I think for this reason, this is why our start to the season was poor.

“Because the players we signed arrived at the last moment and some players arrived injured. [Tiemoue] Bakayoko and [Danny] Drinkwater both had injuries and [Davide] Zapapcosta arrived here at the last moment. If they come early [in the window], then it is good for me and for my players to work together.”