Chelsea agree deal for Italian manager Antonio Conte to replace Guus Hiddink

CHELSEA have a provisional agreement in place to bring Antonio Conte to Stamford Bridge this summer, according to reports.

The 46-year-old is currently in charge of Italy but is widely expected to step down when his contract expires after Euro 2016.
And with Guus Hiddink also leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, the Premier League champions are in the process of lining up a long-term replacement for sacked boss Jose Mourinho.
Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport are claiming that the London club have agreed a deal in principle with Conte.

A move to the Premier League would be the former Juventus midfielder's first job outside Italy.
Conte had previous been in charge of a string of Serie A clubs including Atalanta, Siena and Juve before taking the Italy job.
With the national side in turmoil after the 2014 World Cup which saw them fail to get beyond the group stages, Conte replaced Cesare Prandelli on a two-year deal.

He subsequently led Italy to comfortable qualification for this summer's Euro 2016 in an unbeaten campaign.
Conte will now face a tough group at the competition with Belgium, Republic of Ireland and Sweden standing between Italy and the knockout stages.
Even if the manager's summer ventures are a success, Conte has not renewed his contract which is due to expire in August.
And the odds have been slashed on Conte moving to Chelsea.
Express Sport understands Diego Simeone, Jorge Sampaoli and Massimiliano Allegri are also under consideration to replace Hiddink.
However, the Dutch boss is so popular that Chelsea's squad members are reportedly desperate to keep him as manager beyond the end of the current campaign

But similar pleas were made in 2009 after Hiddink lifted the FA Cup and he was happy to walk away from the club.
And the 69-year-old has already hinted several times that he will do the same again once the season comes to an end.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/646611/Chelsea-manager-Antonio-Conte-Guus-Hiddink-Premier-League