Since the 2017-18 season ended we’ve seen, for the most part, just two names linked as Antonio Conte’s potential replacement as Chelsea manager- Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri and former Paris Saint-Germain leader Laurent Blanc. As of now, Conte still remains on the job, but it looks like that’s going to change very soon.
According to multiple reports in numerous outlets all across the globe, Sarri is set to be appointed as the next Blues boss. Sarri will reportedly receive a three year contract with club legend Gianfranco Zola coming back to Stamford Bridge to serve as one of Sarri’s assistants.
While this deal appears to be imminent, it’s still going to be awhile before it is official announced.
TalkSPORT reports that “talks are set to be held between Chelsea chiefs and Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis over the fee to be paid for the transfer of Sarri to Stamford Bridge, before the deal can be formalized.”
Meanwhile ESPN FC writes that “Chelsea’s pursuit of Sarri has been ongoing for several weeks with the two clubs haggling over Sarri’s release clause.”
Sarri, not Blanc, has apparently been Chelsea’s top target all along, but negotiations hit a snag when the west London club failed to exercise his release clause (which some outlets report to be £8 million) before it expired at the end of May. Sarri is still under contract at Napoli, but his replacement, Carlo Ancelotti, has already been pegged.
Conte has one more year left on his deal, so if/when he is dismissed, Roman Abramovich’s club will have to buy his contract out, and this has reportedly been a sticking point obstructing managerial regime change.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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