Maurizio sarri

Chelsea have finally sacked Antonio Conte and paved the way for Maurizio Sarri to replace him as the club’s new head coach. Owner Roman Abramovich has risked paying Conte his full £9million compensation bill with the Italian ready to take a year out if no big jobs become available. Abramovich held off sacking Conte to see if a job became available that would save Chelsea having to pay him off, but the club have been left with little choice but to act - despite the Italian returning to take pre-season training since Monday. News broke from Italy that Conte had been sacked and, although Chelsea have refused to comment, Telegraph Sport understands he officially left the club on Thursday. Unless a private agreement can be struck or Chelsea and Conte embark on a bitter legal battle, the Blues will have to pay the 48-year-old for the final year of his contract that was only improved on July 18 last year. He added the FA Cup to the Premier League title he won in his first … [Read more...] about Antonio Conte sacked by Chelsea paving the way for Maurizio Sarri’s arrival

Chelsea are set to finally put an end to their managerial stalemate after Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed a double deal for Maurizio Sarri and midfielder Jorginho to move to Stamford Bridge is close. The Blues have been in negotiations with Napoli over making Sarri the successor to head coach Antonio Conte since the end of last season, but had been unable to strike an agreement. But it appears Chelsea have finally found a solution by agreeing to pay £50 million, plus £7m in bonuses, to take both Sarri and Jorginho, who had been a target of Manchester City. Italian reports have also claimed that Cesc Fabregas could move in the opposite direction, but Telegraph Sport understands the Spaniard is not interested in joining Napoli. Confirming Chelsea are close to finally making a breakthrough, De Laurentiis said: “The Sarri deal is in the homestretch, it depends on him. “I’ve laid down my conditions. It’s all in the hands of lawyers. … [Read more...] about Chelsea finalising £50m double deal with Napoli for manager Maurizio Sarri and midfielder Jorginho

Chelsea expect to resolve the club’s managerial situation this week, with Maurizio Sarri preparing to finally succeed Antonio Conte. And Alvaro Morata is set to hold talks over his Chelsea future when the club’s non-World Cup players return for pre-season training on July 9. Conte has prepared a rigorous pre-season training programme in case he remains in charge, but the expectation is still that Sarri will replace him as head coach before Morata and Co start work again at Cobham a week on Monday. Whoever welcomes the players for pre-season training will still have the benefit of working with Chris Jones, despite the fact he has joined Frank Lampard at Derby County as first-team coach. Jones, who was a fitness coach at Stamford Bridge for 12 years, will split his time between Chelsea and Derby until the season kicks off to help get the Blues players ready for the new campaign, before joining the Rams full-time. Chelsea’s players have been left in the dark over … [Read more...] about Maurizio Sarri expected to be named Chelsea manager next week