Report: Chelsea Pursue Massimiliano Allegri as Antonio Conte Replacement

Chelsea reportedly believe Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri could be tempted by a move to Stamford Bridge to take over from Antonio Conte, who is expected to leave this summer. 

According to MailOnline's Matt Barlow, the Blues have stepped up their pursuit of the 50-year-old and have made contact "at an intermediary level."

Barlow noted there is a belief at Chelsea that Allegri is frustrated by Juve's inability to top Europe's strongest clubs in the UEFA Champions League and that he could therefore be open to a move away from Turin despite being contracted to the Old Lady until 2020.

Juventus have played in two of the past three Champions League finals but were beaten comfortably on both occasions, first by Barcelona in 2015 and then by Real Madrid last year.

The Bianconeri ousted Tottenham Hotspur to reach the last eight of this year's competition but were thrashed 3-0 at home in their quarter-final first leg against Real on Tuesday.

Allegri is on track to win his fourth Serie A title in four seasons in charge of Juve in 2017-18, but he may well think he has taken this team as far as he can.

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Given Conte looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Allegri could consider heading to Stamford Bridge.

However, if it is a Champions League run the Italian wants, he may not be attracted to the Chelsea job.

The Premier League champions are eight points off the top four in the English top flight and look likely to be competing in the UEFA Europa League next term.

Paris Saint-Germain could be the more tempting option for Allegri given their financial clout, and Le Parisien recently linked him with replacing Unai Emery at the Parc des Princes (via Football Italia).

Per Barlow's report, the other candidate on Chelsea's radar for if they do not get Allegri is former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, who is planning a return to work after a hiatus.