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Chelsea news: Maurizio Sarri meeting TODAY with Antonio Conte away on holiday
CHELSEA are to speak to Maurizio Sarri’s agents today about the manager replacing Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea want to talks to Maurizio Sarri about being their new manager
Chelsea and Conte are expected to part ways this summer but only if and when the Blues have a replacement lined up.
Express Sport understands Sarri, currently under contract at Napoli but with no official duties, has already rejected an offer to manage Zenit St Petersburg this summer.
And while Chelsea will have to fork out a small fortune to prise him away from Naples, reports in Italy claim Blues bosses are keen to speak to the 59-year-old.
According to Football Italia, Chelsea officials will meet Sarri’s representatives in London today to sound out the manager’s interest.
Sarri has a complicated situation at Napoli, where he is under contract at the Serie A club but has been replaced by Carlo Ancelotti as head coach.
Chelsea are expected to let Antonio Conte go this summer
He supposedly has three options: join Chelsea, manage Zenit or see out the final 12 months of his Napoli contract.
As Express Sport reports this morning, for Chelsea to appoint Sarri they would have to pay £7m to break his Napoli terms, while also paying off the remaining £9m of Conte’s deal.
Chelsea will also have to throw David Luiz into the bargain.
Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is now in charge at Napoli
Conte, who steered Chelsea to the FA Cup earlier this month, is currently on holiday but officials at Stamford Bridge remain busy behind the scenes.
Football Italia claim Luis Enrique and Laurent Blanc are also on their radar, should a deal for Sarri fall through.
Chelsea will reportedly meet Maurizio Sarri's representatives today