Chelsea Reportedly Sound Out Maurizio Sarri as Antonio Conte Replacement

Chelsea have reportedly sounded out Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri as they consider replacements for manager Antonio Conte this summer.

According to the Mirror's Darren Lewis, the Blues are set to relieve Conte of his duties at the end of the season, with Sarri a "serious contender" to take over from his compatriot. The Napoli coach is also said to have a release clause in his contract that can be activated before May 31.

Conte won the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge, but he has failed to break the pattern of success followed by disappointment at the club.

Though the Blues have not been as poor as they were when Jose Mourinho was sacked just months after lifting the title, they are 10 points off the top four and look set to miss out on UEFA Champions League qualification.

Chelsea's pursuit of Sarri has also been discussed in the Italian press, including by Il Mattino (h/t Sport Witness):

The 59-year-old has not won a trophy during his managerial career, but he was named as Serie A's Coach of the Year last season and could make an excellent choice for the Premier League outfit.

Napoli have become Juventus' biggest challengers in Serie A under Sarri, and they are four points behind the Bianconeri with seven matches remaining.

Football writer Paolo Bandini noted their impressive achievement to run Juve so close:

Sarri has rivalled Juventus in some style too. His players press high up the field, dominate possession and move the ball with pace and intensity, producing some marvellous attacking football.

As football journalist David Amoyal noted, his philosophy has seen him win admirers from the game's other top coaching minds:

Under the Blues' austere approach to the transfer market, which Conte has repeatedly took public issue with, Sarri would also be a good fit.

The manager is not a big spender in the market—per Transfermarkt, Arkadiusz Milik is the only player Napoli have splashed more than £20 million on during Sarri's reign despite the club receiving £81 million for Gonzalo Higuain—instead preferring to coach and improve his players on the training ground.

The likes of Dries Mertens and Kalidou Koulibaly have improved significantly under his tutelage. The former was converted from a winger into a striker and bagged 34 goals last season, while the latter has grown into an accomplished centre-back who is not only defensively robust but also capable of operating in a fast-paced, technically demanding system.

If Sarri can have a similar impact on Chelsea's players, he could have a profound effect on their ability to compete with the likes of Manchester City for a fraction of the spending, and trophies would likely follow.