Antonio Conte has edged closer to becoming the next Chelsea manager after positive talks between his representatives and the Premier League club on Thursday. The Italy manager is keen to succeed Guus Hiddink in the summer and is now hoping to be offered a contract in the next 10 days.
The 46-year-old former Juventus manager was one of three names on Chelsea's shortlist but has edged ahead of the other two contenders, Massimiliano Allegri – the current Juve coach – and Atlético Madrid's Diego Simeone, in recent weeks. Allegri may be persuaded to stay in Turin while Simeone is proving difficult to tempt away from his current employment. Both Atlético and Juventus are still chasing honours domestically and in Europe – Juve drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday while the Spanish side eked out a 0-0 draw at PSV Eindhoven.
Conte is out of contract in the summer and has impressed Chelsea during several discussions in the past month. Thursday’s meeting was described as “very positive”, according to a source close to the negotiations. Conte’s representatives, as well as Chelsea, are now mulling over the finer details of what could be a three-year deal.
Conte, who would earn £6.3m (€8m) a season before tax at Chelsea, is keen to return to club management after the European Championship in France this summer. He had previously managed Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta, Siena and Juventus before taking over the national team in 2014. He won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus and is considered to be one of the finest Italian managers of his generation.
Chelsea are keen to make an appointment well before the summer in order not to miss out on their main transfer targets. Manchester United could also be looking for a new manager after this season and, with Simeone and Allegri reluctant to commit at this stage of the season, Conte has gained an advantage that may well lead to him landing the job shortly.
Conte is highly regarded after his work at Juventus, where he took a club that had finished seventh in their previous season, in 2010, to the Serie A title. He failed to get past the quarter-finals in the Champions League while in Turin but is undefeated in 10 competitive games as Italy manager.
(Guardian service)
