Chelsea have sounded out Antonio Conte as they consider their options over who to appoint as their next permanent manager. Conte, who will lead Italy at the European Championship in France, is determined to move back into club management next season.

The 46-year-old has been learning English and he has been targeted as part of a recruitment process led by the Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia.

Granovskaia is also understood to have spoken to representatives of Massimiliano Allegri, the Juventus manager, and Atlético Madrid's Diego Simeone.

However Allegri has distanced himself from the position at Stamford Bridge through his agent Giovanni Branchini

With questions persisting over whether Simeone would be prepared to quit Atlético, a club he has lifted to the status of contenders in Spain and Europe, Conte is fast emerging as a strong possibility for Chelsea.

The former Italy international helped to restore Juventus to the top of the Italian game, winning the title in each of his three seasons at the club until he left to succeed Cesare Prandelli at the national team in the summer of 2014.

Conte is intense, obsessive about the job and extremely demanding of his players. He has no time for big egos in the dressing room. Abramovich will be aware of his ability to create well-drilled and charismatic teams. Conte will travel to Euro 2016 with confidence, despite Italy’s difficult draw, after leading them to an unbeaten qualification.

Simeone’s contract at Atlético contains a €17m buyout clause and he is feted by the supporters. He has been made aware of what Chelsea would be prepared to offer him but he is reluctant to make any decisions until the end of the season. In line with club policy, Chelsea are refusing to comment as the process plays out.

(Guardian Service)