Major boost for Chelsea as Napoli admit managerial target could leave

Oli Fisher

Chelsea have been handed a huge boost in their search for Antonio Conte’s replacement due to the comments of one club chief.

According to widespread reports, Roman Abramovich has made Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri his primary target for the summer to replace Conte, who has guided the Blues to a disappointing title defence.

Now, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has admitted that Sarri could leave the Serie A giants at the end of the season.

“With or without, it depends on him,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“It doesn’t seem right now to insist. Let him work quietly.

“Since January I have talked to him several times. If he finally wants to stay, for me it will be a great pleasure.

“If someone then had to pay the release clause, at that point I couldn’t do anything.

“But if he wanted to leave regardless, it would mean he has no more motivation and I will have to take note of this.”

 

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