Chelsea boosted in pursuit of Conte replacement

Maurizio Sarri has reportedly emerged as the front-runner to replace Antonio Conte as the Chelsea head coach during the summer.

The 59-year-old has witnessed Napoli drop off from their quest for the Serie A crown this season and he is now said to have made his mind up for a fresh challenge.

According to The Mirror, Sarri's availability has supposedly caught the eye of the Blues and they are confident of pursuing his services at the end of the campaign.

Chelsea are currently eight points behind Tottenham Hotspur for the final Champions League position but they can shorten this gap with a victory over Burnley tonight.

The Blues could also salvage their season by winning the FA Cup next month but this is unlikely to better Conte's chances of staying after being critical about the club's transfer policy earlier in the season.