The Italian is closing on to joining the Blues
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been tipped to leave the club this summer despite his 3 year contract with the club expiring at the end of the next season.
The Italian has been linked with an exit for quite some now after a decline in club’s performances last season. The coach’s future has been under scrutiny since before the season began, as he negotiated a pay-rise without extending his contract and complaints over the club’s transfer policy.
Former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri has been linked to replace Conte in the upcoming season, who has done an excellent job since he took over the charge of the Italian side and helped them to finish second in the league last season.
The speculations further intensified when the Serie A giants appointed Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager for the upcoming season. Though the 59 year old is still under contract with them.
The Blues are continuing talks over a deal to bring in the Italian to replace the former Juventus manager and it is believed that he will target some of his former players if he is appointed.
Sarri wants to make Dries Mertens his first signing as Chelsea manager, according to the Daily Mirror .
The Belgian joined the Italian giants from PSV Eindhoven for a reported fee of €9.5 million in 2013 and has been a mainstay in the team since then.
The 31 year old upped his game midway through the 2016-2017, when his former manager jiggled his starting line-up and put him up front. He scored 28 goals and was behind Edin Dzeko only in the league.
The Belgian International was in great form last season, scoring 21 goals and assisting 9 in all competitions and establishing himself as one of the best forwards in the world.
Conte even tried to sign him twice before but failed to convince him to join. They previously baulked at meeting the £24.5 million release clause for him, and now that clause has expired, so he could be even more expensive.
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