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Chelsea could be set for a cash windfall - and it's all down to Antonio Conte
CHELSEA could be set for a mini cash windfall if their former manager Antonio Conte joins Roma this season.
Chelsea sacked Conte in the summer, with Maurizio Sarri taking over as Blues boss.
But the club have not cancelled Conte’s contract and are instead paying him his monthly wages until the deal expires next summer.
Conte is said to be open to finding a new job after leaving Stamford Bridge in July.
And a move to Roma is being talked up in Italy after the Rome club’s disappointing start to the season.
According to Calcionews24, Conte could be one of the frontrunners to replace current Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco, if the club decide to sack the 48-year-old.
Roma were tipped to challenge Juventus for the Serie A title this season but already sit five points off the pace, having collected just one win and a draw from their opening three league games.
Calcionews24 claim Conte is the favourite among Roma supporters to replace Di Francesco, should the under-pressure manager get the boot.
But were the Stadio Olimpico club to move for Conte this season, they would have to settle his outstanding contract with Chelsea first.
And that’s where the Blues could earn themselves a mini cash windfall.
Chelsea themselves have experienced the rigours of prising a manager out of his contract, even if his current club doesn’t want him.
Earlier this summer, Sarri was axed by Napoli and replaced by Carlo Ancelotti.
But officials at the Naples side did not cancel Sarri’s contract.
Instead, they opted to pay him what he was owed on a monthly basis and wait for Chelsea to come along before agreeing to release Sarri from the terms - at a fee of around £4.4m, which Chelsea paid.
The Blues could now do the same with Roma if they come calling this season.
Conte is already two months into the final year of his £9m-a-season deal at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea would ideally like him off their books for good.
But if Roma are desperate then the Serie A side may be convinced to part with some cash to ease the cancellation of Conte’s Blues deal.