Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Chelsea news: Maurizio Sarri agent rushing to meet deadline as Blues eye Laurent Blanc
CHELSEA are on the verge of ending their interest in Maurizio Sarri and could move for Laurent Blanc instead, claim reports in Italy.
Sarri, 59, has been in talks with Chelsea over replacing Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.
He still has one year left on his Napoli contract but is effectively unemployed after the Serie A club appointed Carlo Ancelotti as his successor.
Chelsea must pay Sarri’s £7million release clause to bring him to west London this summer.
And the Premier League giants are reportedly unwilling to do just that.
That is according to Italian outlet CalcioNapoli24.
They claim Chelsea have gone cold on stumping up the fee required to lure Sarri to London.
And to make matters worse for the manager, the £7m release clause expires on Thursday.
CalcioNapoli24 claim Sarri’s agent is working furiously to try and find a solution for the Italian before the May 31 deadline.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have supposedly now turned their attention to Laurent Blanc.
The Frenchman has not managed since leaving PSG two summers ago.
As for Conte, it looks increasingly likely as though he will leave the club this summer.
Chelsea are understood to be willing to let the manager go, although a battle over the remaining £9m of his contract may ensue.