Antonio Conte Warns of Manchester City Stockpiling Players, Talks Chelsea Future

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has urged the rest of the Premier League to do their utmost to prevent Manchester City from stockpiling the best players and revealed his desire to see out his contract at Stamford Bridge in order to challenge the Sky Blues next year.

Per the Mirror's Darren Lewis, the Italian wants to stop City adding more top players to their squad to ensure the division remains competitive: "Every team, every club, must pay great attention. Because if a club like Manchester City takes all the best [players], it will be very difficult for us to fight. Not only in England but in Europe."

Conte believes City have the right to make improvements, though: "We must pay great respect. When you have this opportunity to go in the market to spend a lot of money, I think it is right to do this."

He added that to avoid spending "a lot of money in a bad way, you must be clever to understand the positions, the roles you have to improve. In this case you must be very good."

According to Lewis, the Chelsea manager's comments come amid speculation both the Blues and City are interested in signing Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, as well as Liverpool and Arsenal.

When asked about the Netherlands international, Conte would not comment on him specifically, apart from to pay him a compliment, per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella:

Chelsea and their Premier League rivals can ill afford for City to strengthen once again in the transfer market, which the capture of Van Dijk—one of the division's top defenders—would undoubtedly help them do.

With the team one match short of the season's halfway point, the Sky Blues are 11 points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table and 14 above Chelsea in third.

ESPN FC's Liam Twomey noted the effect their form has had:

City's rivals have been unable to match them this season, not only in the table but also in direct competition:

Past success does not tend to earn you time at Stamford Bridge if the team has failed or is failing in the title race—just ask former managers Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo—but Conte is hoping to at least see out his third year with the club next season so he can take on City.

Per Lewis, he said: "I have another year on my contract. So in this moment, my focus is total. It is total for Chelsea, for my players, to improve my players, to try to improve the team. To try to improve the club. To see if I can do this."

While the Blues aren't quite at last season's standard—which still wouldn't have been enough to match City—Conte has done an outstanding job since arriving at Chelsea in 2016, and there is perhaps no better candidate to take the side forward next year.

City will remain dominant until their rivals can match them in the transfer market, though, not only in the level of spending but also, as Conte noted, in making the correct decisions.

Aside from refusing to sell their own players to City, however, there may be little Chelsea can do to prevent them from stockpiling talent.

It will be up to Van Dijk to choose his next destination if he receives multiple offers in January, and City look like the most enticing suitor.