Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has reportedly missed out on signing Joao Cancelo from Valencia, as the defender has secured a move to Inter Milan

According to a report by The Sun, Joao Cancelo has snubbed Chelsea in order to join Inter Milan this summer, leaving Antonio Conte in a very precarious position. The transfer window has been nothing short of underwhelming for the Italian manager since he has been losing several of his transfer targets.

Luck hasn’t been favouring him in other matters either. His alleged bust-up with Diego Costa and the dismal opening performance against Burnley are likely to be his top concerns. Add to that his failure to add depth to the squad, and it makes a very frustrating picture for Conte, although some of them have been eased following Sunday’s win over Tottenham.

After missing out on Alex Sandro, Danilo, Andrea Belotti and others, Conte has now missed out on signing Cancelo as well. The news was confirmed by Valencia boss Marcelino Garcia Toral after his side’s win over Las Palmas over the weekend.

Cancelo joined Valencia back in 2015 after a successful year on loan with Los Che, in a deal worth £13 million. Since then, he has gone on to become a key member of the Valencia first-team setup and his performances have attracted the attention of some top clubs.

VALENCIA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Gareth Bale (L) of Real Madrid is tackled by Joao Cancelo of Valencia during the La Liga match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid at Mestalla Stadium on February 22, 2017 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
Move confirmed to join Inter Milan. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)

The Portuguese defender has been one of Valencia’s most consistent performers over the last two seasons and his performances also earned him a call-up to the Portugal national side last year. He made 38 appearances for Valencia last season, scoring one goal.

The player enjoyed a fine debut for the Seleccao as well, scoring in the 5-0 win over Gibraltar in September last year. Proving his quality further, Cancelo followed that up by scoring two more goals the following month during the World Cup 2018 qualifiers.

The player is one of the most highly-rated full-backs in Spain with mean dribbling and passing skills, which have made him an ideal signing for Chelsea. In fact, the player’s versatility could have also proven to be an asset for the Italian manager. He does come across as a strong all-rounder, which is something Conte looks for in his wing-backs.

Although he plays primarily as a right-back, the Portuguese international has also played at right midfield on certain occasions last season, which could have made him a quality addition to the squad. However, as things stand now, the Chelsea boss will have to look for a target elsewhere considering that the transfer window is almost set to end.

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