Antonio Conte admits to having no power over Chelsea transfers in January

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says the final decision over making potential signings in the January transfer window is out of his hands.

The Blues have been linked with bringing in Monaco's Thomas Lemar and Juventus full-back Alex Sandro next month, but either deal will need approval from the club's board.

Roman Abramovich's closest confidant Eugene Tenenbaum, Bruce Buck and Marina Granovskaia sit on the three-person Chelsea board, with the latter leading the recruitment drive since the resignation of Michael Emenalo.

Conte is due to meet with the trio over Chelsea's plans for the January window, but the Italian is well aware that any of his desires face major hurdles before they can be put into action.

"It's right to have a meeting with the club about the transfer market in January," he told reporters, according to Football.London. "But you have to ask the club [which players will come and leave]. I can give my opinion to the club and the last word is the club's. I have to respect every decision."

The former Italy national team boss complained regularly during the summer over the club's failure to make sufficient signings, leading to speculation he could leave Stamford Bridge just a year on from his appointment.

Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater, Antonio Rudiger, Davide Zappacosta and Willy Caballero did eventually all arrive for a combined £179m, with only Manchester City and Manchester United spending more.

But Conte has continued to bemoan his lack of options, highlighted by him starting the 3-1 win at Huddersfield Town in mid-week without a recognised out-and-out striker in the absence of the injured Morata.

When the Chelsea board and Conte convene to discuss the January window, among the players who could be debated is striker Michy Batshuayi, who reports suggest could be offloaded to make way for Lemar.

A combination of Morata's impressive form since joining from Real Madrid and a foot problem has contributed to Batshuayi starting just twice in the Premier League, though he has been a regular in the domestic cup competitions.

Morata missed the win at Huddersfield with a back problem but substitute Batshuayi was overlooked until the final 21 minutes when the three points had been sewn up, as Eden Hazard started in a 'false nine' role.

But Conte insists that despite the snub he does remain in his plans. "He is part of my squad," he stated. "Batshuayi was out for three weeks and then he struggled a bit to find the right physical condition. Now he's in good form. But if you compare to last season, he is playing."

Another player who could be subject to speculation next month is Charly Musonda, who despite signing a new contract until 2022 last month has failed to build on a brief spell in the first team earlier in the campaign.

Reports suggest he could be loaned out for a second season in a row having spent the 2016-17 campaign at Real Betis and Conte says his future will be discussed, but that again he will not be involved in the decision-making process.

"I'm happy for him [to sign a new contract]," Conte said. "The club I think took the right decision for this, and the player the same. Then for his future I think the club and the player will take the right decision."