Chelsea reach agreement for Maurizio Sarri?

Chelsea are reportedly close to appointing Maurizio Sarri as their next head coach after agreeing on a severance package with Italian club Napoli.

The Blues have been in contact with the Italian since the close of the campaign and they are now prepared to release him from his Napoli contract.

According to Il Mattino, the Blues are keen to resolve their managerial situation at the earliest possibility and they are prepared to offer as much as £4.4m to cut Sarri out of his Napoli deal.

It is added that the move will come at an additional cost with Antonio Conte likely to receive a substantial pay-off of around £9m in order to end his two-year spell with the west London giants.

Sarri, who is expected to sign a three-year contract with the Blues, is likely to work with Giovanni Martusciello, Blues legend Gianfranco Zola and five other members as his backroom staff following his London switch.