Following their 1-0 victory over Manchester United last weekend, Chelsea have put themselves back into the Premier League title race.

Ok, the Blues might still be nine points behind Manchester City but they’re now just one point behind United in second.

Things are certainly looking better than they did after they lost two consecutive league matches against City and Crystal Palace at the start of October.

But overhauling Pep Guardiola’s side seems a nigh on impossible task right now. The Citizens have won 10 and drawn one of their 11 league games and are already odds-on favourites for glory come May.

But Antonio Conte won’t be handing over the Premier League trophy easily. And it seems he’s willing to do all he can to keep up with the Etihad club.

And that includes spending big in January.

Who Conte wants to sign

According to the Mirror, the west London club will go back in for Ross Barkley. It’s believed that Barkley snubbed a move to Stamford Bridge on transfer deadline day but still hasn’t played for Everton this campaign.

The Toffees want to sell the 23-year-old in the winter transfer window rather than allowing him to run down his contract, which expires in the summer.

And Conte is also keen to add a striker to his ranks with Michy Batshuayi still failing to earn his trust.

But who will that striker be?

Well, Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke is the number one target. The Belgian was also linked with a surprise move to Chelsea in the summer but the two clubs couldn’t agree a deal. But it seems Conte will go back in for the former Liverpool striker.

But if a move for Benteke is too difficult once again, the club have also scouted Red Star Belgrade’s Richmond Boakye.

Elsewhere, Conte is still interested in Juventus’ Alex Sandro but it’s believed a January move for the left-back is highly unlikely.

With the departure of technical director Michael Emenalo, it’s believed Conte will now be backed to the hilt in terms of transfers.

Director Marina Granovskaia will be overseeing deals for now but it’s believed Roman Abramovich will now adopt a much more hands-on approach.

Will Conte get his wish and land Barkley and Benteke in January?