Chelsea are understood to be close to completing a deal with Napoli over making Maurizio Sarri the new man in chare at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have spent the whole summer chasing the Italian, who will come in to replace Antonio Conte at the club.

Conte is believed to have left the club by mutual consent on Thursday, having spent two seasons at Stamford Bridge. The Italian has a clause in his contract that guarantees him a pay-off of £9m, for the final year of his deal, although this would be reduced if he got another job.

Sarri, who is still contracted to Napoli despite being replaced by Carlo Ancelotti, has been in talks with the Blues as confirmed by Napoli’s president Aurelio de Laurentiis.

“We are in the finishing line,” he said “Now it depends on [Sarri] and Chelsea.

“The Sarri affair is nearly at its conclusion, it all depends on him. My lawyers have submitted papers to his lawyers.”
[Quotes via BBC]

Sarri joined Napoli in 2015 and led them to an impressive second placed finish in last season’s Serie A, behind champions Juventus last season.

It means that Chelsea’s managerial situation is nearing its resolve, perhaps the Blues can expect to see some signings made now.