Roman Abramovic wants £7m manager to replace Chelsea boss Antonio Conte

CHELSEA owner Roman Abramovich has set his sights on Napoli manager Maurizo Sarri, according to reports in Italy.

Posted Monday, February 05, 2018 by Dailystar.co.uk

Roman Abramovic wants £7m manager to replace Chelsea boss Antonio Conte
Napoli manager Maurizo Sarri lined up to replace Antonio Conte at Chelsea

Conte has endured a difficult second season at Stamford Bridge after guiding Chelsea to the Premier League title last term.

The Blues sit fourth in the table and 19 points behind league leaders Manchester City.

The Italian is expected to leave Chelsea in the summer, with reports surfacing this week that he could be sacked as early as tomorrow if they lose at Watford.

And according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Abramovich has targeted Napoli head coach Sarri as Conte’s successor.

Roman Abramovic wants £7m manager to replace Chelsea boss Antonio Conte
Roman Abramovich on the hunt for a new manager at Chelsea

Abramovich is reportedly willing to trigger the 59-year-old’s £7m release clause at the Stadio San Paolo.

Sarri was named Napoli boss in the summer of 2015 following the departure of Rafa Benitez and has taken them to top of the Serie A table.

Tonight’s 2-0 win away at Benevento moved Napoli to the summit, one points ahead of reigning champions Juventus.

Chelsea will have to move fast if they are to secure Sarri’s services though, with the club desperate to tie him down to a new contract.

The Italian is reportedly set to sit down with president Aurelio De Laurentiis to discuss his future.

"I’d be really sorry if he’d leave at the end of the season,” said De Laurentiis.

"I can’t force him to stay at Napoli, he has a release clause and we have to accept this. I’d really like to cancel his release clause in the future.”