Chelsea’s To Name New Coach In 10 Days

The management of Chelsea football club of London could name its new manager as soon as next weekend as the bid to replace erstwhile coach, Jose Mourinho reaches its peak.

According to reports on ESPN, which cited multiple reports late on Thursday night, the deal is as good as done.

“Antonio Conte could be named the next manager at Chelsea with the next 10 days after encouraging talks between the current Italy boss and Blues representatives on Thursday,” it wrote.

Antonio Conte

Forty-six-year-old Conte has a contract which ends after the European Championship in the summer, and is now hammering out the details of a three-year contract to become Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor, Sky Sports and The Guardian reported.

ESPN quoted sources as saying earlier in the week that the Italian had moved ahead of Juventus coach Masimiliano Allegri, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, former Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli and Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino to become the front-runner for the position.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Tuesday that a deal had already been struck in principle between Chelsea and Conte, with Blues owner Roman Abramovich set to take a final decision next month.

Conte is said to have reportedly agreed a two-year contract worth €16 million, according to Tuttomercatoweb, which reported that an agreement in principle exists and said the situation would be assessed further in April.

The Daily Mail said that Conte held talks with Abramovich at a meeting in Monaco brokered by Federico Pastorello, the Italian agent responsible for bringing Gianfranco Zola and Carlo Cudicini to Stamford Bridge.

Conte and Chelsea technical director, Michael Emenalo travelled separately to watch Juventus take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16 in Turin on Tuesday night, and the Italy coach is also reportedly taking English lessons in preparation for life in the Premier League next season.