Antonio Conte tight-lipped on Chelsea interest in Edin Dzeko as striker hunt continues in the transfer window

Antonio Conte has refused to speak about Chelsea's interest in Roma striker Edin Dzeko.

As reported by Standard Sport on Friday, Chelsea have made an enquiry with the Italian side about Dzeko as the Blues look to sign a back-up striker for Alvaro Morata.

Chelsea were linked in recent days with a move for West Ham's Andy Carroll, who has since suffered an ankle injury, and Stoke City's Peter Crouch.

But Conte would not say whether Chelsea are keen on any of those players, insisting it would be disrespectful to his current forwards Morata and Michy Batshuayi to speak about his transfer targets.

When asked whether Dzeko is a potential target for Chelsea, Conte told reporters: "As you know very well, I think it's not right to talk about the players of other teams. I'm not interested in this. There is a transfer market in this season. If there is something, you are the first to know news."

Crouch's name was then brought up, and Conte said: "But my answer is the same. I'm not interested in this conversation. Also, because it's disrespectful to my players and for the other players, the players of other clubs.

"As I said before, this period there is a transfer market. If something happens, for sure you'll know about it. You are the first media to know news."

Chelsea had been keen to sign Fernando Llorente last summer before the striker opted for a move to Tottenham instead. The forwards Chelsea have since been linked with this month suggest Conte is keen to recruit a tall front-man who would be able to get onto the end of crosses from the flanks.

But the Chelsea boss would not even confirm whether he prefers a burly target man instead of a skilful, smaller forward, saying: "In this moment I can talk about my players, about Morata and about Batshuayi, about their characteristics.

"It's not right to talk about the characteristics of other players. I always said that I'm happy to work with my players. I'm happy to try and improve my players.

"Every striker has his own characteristics. Morata has specific characteristics, and Batshuayi other characteristics. I'm happy to work with my players, for sure. I don't want to talk about other players because it's not right."

He added: "I think that I was very clear in the past telling you that the club, the club, sometimes asks me my opinion about the transfer market.

"But, at the same time, I said in the past that the final decision is for the club. This is our situation. This is the truth. It's the club who has to spend the money, so it's right to do what they prefer.

"It's right to talk about the club, generally, rather than one specific person (sanctioning deals). It's right to speak in general about the club."