Antonio Conte is edging closer to becoming Chelsea's new manager after talks saw the club and the 46-year-old agree deals for some of his backroom staff.

The current Italy coach is the front runner to take over from Guus Hiddink in the summer and has met Chelsea on several occasions over the past few weeks.

The former Juventus manager has impressed the Premier League club's hierarchy and he is expected to sign a three-year contract soon, probably at some point next week, if the finer details of his contract can be agreed upon. The Italian has yet to meet the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, in person but expects to do so in London within the next week.

Conte would like to bring his long-time assistants, Angelo Alessio and Massimo Carrera, as well as another two colleagues with him to west London, with the scouts Mauro Sandreani and Gianluca Conte, his brother, in the frame for those positions. Chelsea have said in talks that the Italian can bring in four full-time members of staff.

Steve Holland, the current assistant first team coach at Chelsea, is expected to stay on at the club regardless of who takes over in the summer.

Chelsea went out of the Champions League on Wednesday night, losing 2-1 in the return leg against Paris St-Germain, having lost the first leg by the same scoreline.

It was only Hiddink’s second defeat in his 17 games in charge but the defeat against the French team showed, again, that there is considerable rebuilding to be done. Chelsea face Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, the only competition they can now win this season.

Conte's contract with Italy runs out after the European Championship in France in the summer and he is keen to return to club management. The former Juventus player won three consecutive Serie A titles as manager of the Turin club before taking over from Cesare Prandelli as Italy coach in the summer of 2014.

(Guardian service)