Antonio Conte refusing to walk away from Chelsea?

Italian manager Antonio Conte has reportedly refused to walk away from Chelsea at the end of the current campaign.

The 48-year-old is keen to serve the remainder of his three-year contract and the Blues are likely to settle for a hefty compensation package to release him this summer.

According to The Mirror, Conte does not have a new job lined up ahead of next season and he has no plans to step down from his current role with the west London giants.

As such, the Blues may have to payout the final year of his contract amounting to £9m and this could be done immediately after the season comes to a close.

Napoli's Maurizio Sarri is presently the prime candidate to replace Conte at the helm but the Blues won't get him on the cheap with a £8m release clause attached to his existing contract.

Conte has recently guided the Blues into the FA Cup final but even winning the Cup competition won't assure him of his stay after his criticism over the club's transfer policy much earlier in the campaign.