Chelsea manager Antonio Conte faced the media ahead of his side's trip to the King Power Stadium, where they face Kelechi Iheanacho's Leicester City on match day four in the English Premier League.

As expected, Conte was quizzed about the club's failed move to sign England star of Nigerian parentage Ross Barkley.

It was claimed by talkSPORT that Barkley pulled the plug on his proposed move to the Premier League champions after the Italian gaffer made himself incommunicado, despite both clubs agreeing a £35 million fee.

Antonio Conte said : ''I don’t like to speak about other teams’ players. But it is ridiculous what I read.''

In explaining why he did not switch clubs before the close of the transfer window, Barkley clarified via Twitter : ''Contrary to a number of reports in the press, I did not undertake a medical with any club at any point.''

He added : ''I simply decided that due to my injury, it would be best to make a decision on my future and assess all my options in January when fully fit''.

Barkley comes off contract with Everton in June 2018, and can start negotiating with interested clubs in January.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : Twitter.com/RBarkley20