Chelsea have made Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri their number one managerial target to replace current Stamford Bridge boss Antonio Conte who is widely expected to leave the club at the end of this season.
The Blues have been heavily linked with moves for former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique and former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel. However, according to reports in the Daily Mail, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich now seems intent on hiring Sarri instead.
Sarri spent much of his career coaching in the lower reaches of Italian football, but he has impressed hugely since taking over at Napoli in 2015.
The 59-year-old has won many admirers for the progressive attacking football he sets his teams up to play, which has been nicknamed ”Sarri Ball,” in Italy.
His style of style of play is similar to Tiki Taka, but requires his team to move up the pitch as quickly as possible. The talented coach has recently announced that he is eager to leave Serie A next season for a new challenge, and it is now looking increasingly likely that he will be sitting in the Stamford Bridge dug out next season.
Find me a better team to watch in Europe. You won't. #Sarriball https://t.co/FNs5E2xgwO
— Tom Hall (@tomjhall10) September 19, 2017
Chelsea’s current boss Antonio Conte enjoyed a superb first season in English football, winning the Premier League and reaching the FA Cup final.
However the former Juventus coaches relationship with his clubs board has soured due to disagreements over transfer policy. Chelsea have also been nowhere near as effective on the pitch as they were during Conte’s maiden campaign, and currently languish in fifth place in the Premier League table with little or no chance of fishing in the top four.