In one of football’s worst kept secrets, Antonio Conte is believed to be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season. However, it has been revealed that the pay-off he would be owed is making the situation all that more difficult.
It is believed the Italian would be due around £10million should he be dismissed from his position; the club are said to be unwilling to pay that amount and will be waiting for him to make the first move.
Having guided the club to a second FA Cup final in his two-year stay at Stamford Bridge, the 48-year-old has made it no secret himself that he is unhappy at the club in regards to how the transfer business is conducted. It is thought a number of signings that have been made since Conte arrived in West London were not ones that he had wanted and the board had failed to get him the players he had originally shortlisted.
Conte looking ahead?
Conte’s representatives are working behind the scenes for him to be able to walk into a job as soon as he decides to leave Chelsea, with a return back to the Italy national team a strong possibility, whilst the Blues are drawing up a shortlist with who they want to bring back the Premier League title.
A number of names have been rumoured in recent weeks, with Juventus’ Max Allegri, Napoli’s Maurizio Sarri and former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique all listed as favourites, whilst Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers and Carlo Ancelotti have both been linked with a possible return to the Bridge.
Regardless of who they decide to bring in, Chelsea will want all things sorted out fairly quickly after the season ends, as they will need to work on transfer targets for their new manager quickly. That being said, they could also be celebrating an FA Cup victory as Conte will prepare to face Manchester United in the final at Wembley Stadium on May 19.
