Chelsea’s manager position is still up in the air. The Blues are yet to sack manager Antonio Conte while reports of signing Maurizio Sarri or Luis Enrique have proven untrue – at least for now. Chelsea’s search has continued and new reports claim owner Roman Abramovich wants a cheaper option to manager the Blues in 2018-19. Abramovich has placed managers Tite and Jorge Sampaoli are now on Chelsea’s radar.
Antonio Conte has one year left to run on his current contract. The manager wants to be paid his final year’s salary to leave which will see him pocket £9 million.
Chelsea have been linked with Sarri, but the deal would cost the Blues £7m just to sign the coach from Napoli. The club would then need to negotiate a contract with the Italian.
The Blues have also been linked to former Barcelona coach Enrique. The Spaniard has demanded a contract of around £15m. The figure was laughed at previously by Arsenal who chose Unai Emery to manage the side in May instead.
Chelsea now want to find a cheaper alternative to Conte and the men they have been chasing. According to football consultant Ian McGarry, Abramovich wants Chelsea to consider managers off the radar of other big clubs.
McGarry stated in a recent interview that Chelsea are now considering Brazil national team manager Tite and Argentina’s national team boss Jorge Sampaoli.
“He’s someone who is desperate to work in Europe and particularly in England,” McGarry stated.
“If either of those managers has a good World Cup, then I think Abramovich could take a gamble.
“I think we might be waiting a while longer to see who Conte’s successor will be and we might have to wait for a few World Cup matches to be played and then see who comes out on top.”
Chelsea supporters are beginning to worry about the club’s lack of decision over a new manager.
A reminder to most media persons who say “Sarri to Chelsea is done”:
Antonio Conte is yet to be sacked.— Premier League Transfers (@PLTransferChief) June 9, 2018
Eden Hazard is unlikely to extend his contract if Antonio Conte remains in his job, while David Luiz and Willian would seek a move away. #CFC (Telegraph)
— ChelsTransfer (@ChelsTransfer) June 13, 2018
CorSport | Antonio Conte will continue as the #Chelsea manager if the blues failed to bring Maurizio Sarri to the club. #CFC
— The Blues (@TheBlues___) June 13, 2018
BREAKING: #Chelsea appoint Maurizio #Sarri with Gianfranco #Zola as his assistant after agreeing compensation deal with Napoli
Antonio #Conte’s departure will soon become public knowledge #CFC
— Peter Harding (@PeterHardingDM) June 15, 2018