Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has issued a warning to the club's board as the January window approaches its conclusion.

With a little over a week remaining in the month, Spurs have yet to make significant inroads on bringing in players for Conte.

After another defeat at the hands of Chelsea on Sunday, this time in the Premier League, the Italian coach was asked about any transfer business the club could manage before the window slams shut.

"To be an important team, you need important players," Conte told 5Live.

"At the moment we are far away. It takes time. Years."

"The club know very well what I think and the time that we need to close the gap," he added.

"There is not on transfer market to close the gap. In the last few years, this gap has become very, very big. Now it's not simple to find a solution in a short time.

"We have four months to try to give everything. If we think we'll solve the situation with the transfer market, it's not a reality. We need many years.

"But for sure you have to start. And there is a point to start. In the last few years, the level of the squad decreased. It's time to improve."