Antonio Conte missed out on two of his transfer targets last summer because they did not think he would still be at Chelsea next season.

Conte is under scrutiny again after the 1-0 defeat at West Ham on Saturday, with Chelsea now 14 points behind leaders Manchester City.

The Italian has not only conceded their defence of the title is over after just 16 games but insisted the club were never in contention to begin with.

Conte’s position has been subject to much speculation since July when he agreed to a pay-rise but, crucially, did not extend his contract, which expires in 2019. And Standard Sport understands two players - who we have decided not to name - chose not to move to Stamford Bridge due to concerns over Conte’s long-term future.

It should be stressed this was just the players’ opinion and not because Conte or anyone at the club had intimated this would be his last season there. But their doubts over the Italian’s future were a major factor in them deciding not to join the Blues.

Conte has consistently complained about the club’s transfer business during the last window, even though they still spent around £190million on seven new arrivals. Chelsea will try to strengthen next month, with Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey Butler one player on their wish-list.

Conte appeared to admit after the loss at London Stadium that he had already told the hierarchy to bring in new players.

In Pictures | West Ham vs Chelsea | 09/12/2017 28 show all In Pictures | West Ham vs Chelsea | 09/12/2017 1/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 2/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 3/28 AFP/Getty Images 4/28 Getty Images 5/28 AFP/Getty Images 6/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 7/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 8/28 Getty Images 9/28 AFP/Getty Images 10/28 AFP/Getty Images 11/28 Getty Images 12/28 Getty Images 13/28 Getty Images 14/28 Getty Images 15/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 16/28 AP 17/28 Getty Images 18/28 AFP/Getty Images 19/28 AFP/Getty Images 20/28 Getty Images 21/28 Getty Images 22/28 Getty Images 23/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 24/28 Getty Images 25/28 AFP/Getty Images 26/28 Getty Images 27/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 28/28 Getty Images 1/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 2/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 3/28 AFP/Getty Images 4/28 Getty Images 5/28 AFP/Getty Images 6/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 7/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 8/28 Getty Images 9/28 AFP/Getty Images 10/28 AFP/Getty Images 11/28 Getty Images 12/28 Getty Images 13/28 Getty Images 14/28 Getty Images 15/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 16/28 AP 17/28 Getty Images 18/28 AFP/Getty Images 19/28 AFP/Getty Images 20/28 Getty Images 21/28 Getty Images 22/28 Getty Images 23/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 24/28 Getty Images 25/28 AFP/Getty Images 26/28 Getty Images 27/28 West Ham United via Getty Images 28/28 Getty Images

He said: “I can give my opinion to my club and also I speak with my club. I can give my opinion but the final decision is for the club. It is right to be in this way.”

Over the past few months, Conte has been linked with managerial jobs for next season at Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

The departure of technical director Michael Emenalo last month was seen in some quarters as another sign of the growing tension behind the scenes at Chelsea.

But speaking last week, Emenalo insisted Conte’s job was not under threat. He said: “He enjoys a lot of respect at the senior level, the board level and the ownership level, so there should be no worries at all.”