Antonio Conte’s Chelsea have bounced back from a testing September to sit fourth in the Premier League table.

The Blues won none of their three league matches in September, drawing one and losing two, with the two losses coming at the hands of title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal.

In that period, they conceded seven goals which, for a team managed by Conte, who came from Juventus and Italy – two of the best defensive sides in the world, it was a massive surprise.

Nevertheless, the Italian has tweaked his system and now employs a back three, which has transformed Chelsea’s fortunes, as they have won their last four league games, and conceded none in those matches.

Victories over Manchester United and Southampton were the highlights as the Blues look to usurp joint-leaders Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool at the top of the division.

However, Conte may feel that he needs more reinforcements to sustain a title challenge, and could look at other Premier League clubs in a bid to bolster his squad.

Thus, here are TWO Manchester City players he could try and lure to Stamford Bridge in January…

Fernandinho

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Surprisingly, Manchester City have yet to agree a new deal for midfielder Fernandinho, despite his fruitful three-year spell at the club.

The Brazilian international is out of contract at the end of the current season, and may consider his options if the Manchester club aren’t forthcoming with an offer.

No agreement could see many clubs show an interest in the 31-year-old in January, and Chelsea could be one of them because of his track record in English football, and his excellent displays for City over the last three years.

Only John Stones has played more games for City than Fernandinho under Pep Guardiola this season, so it would be a surprise if he left City, but it’s not totally out of the question.

Yaya Toure

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Despite an apology from Yaya Toure to Guardiola on Friday, Toure’s agent has come out and said that he will not be apologising to the City boss, so this whole saga isn’t over just yet.

As a result, clubs should continue monitoring the situation surrounding the Ivorian, whose contract runs out at the end of the current campaign.

It’d be a surprise if that was renewed any time soon, which could allow clubs to approach the midfielder in January.

If Chelsea want to strengthen their midfield department, they’d do a lot worse than look at Toure, who has helped inspire City teams to domestic trophies in the past.

Whether he’d be disciplined enough to play in a Conte team remains to be seen, but Chelsea should certainly ask the question about Toure’s future when the window reopens in the New Year.