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Chelsea news: Sky Sports pundit Ian Wright makes shock Ross Barkley claim
IAN WRIGHT is adamant that Ross Barkley wasn’t Antonio Conte’s top transfer target for Chelsea this window.
Ross Barkley announces signing to Chelsea
Barkley joined Chelsea in a £15million deal last Friday from Everton.
The England international is still waiting to make his first appearance of the season due to a knee injury.
After training with his new Blues team-mates on Monday, it seems his debut may not be too far away.
Antonio Conte was vocal last summer in expressing his frustrations with Chelsea’s approach to transfer business.
And Wright thinks Conte would much rather have signed Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal than Barkley.
Ross Barkley joined Chelsea for £15million
I don’t think Ross [Barkley] was his first choice. I think it was Arturo [Vidal]
“I don’t think Ross [Barkley] was his first choice,” Wright told Sky Sports’ The Debate.
“I think it was Arturo [Vidal].
“And that’s the kind of player he wanted to have.
“If you’re going to continue to do that to do someone like Conte, and you’ve see he’s not looking happy, you feel that if there’s a job out there for him, he might leave.
Ian Wright doesn't think Ross Barkley was Antonio Conte's first choice
“Where does that leave Barkley?”
Meanwhile, Chelsea were held to a goalless draw at home to Arsenal last night in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
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