Antonio Conte finally set for Chelsea exit before players report back for pre-season at the weekend
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Chelsea are poised to finally replace Antonio Conte with Maurizio Sarri this weekend as they prepare for pre-season.
The FA Cup-winning Blues have been set to part company with Conte since mid-May, but the Italian has refused to resign despite countryman Sarri agreeing to join from Serie A runners-up Napoli.
It has left several players anxious to discover their futures with decisions needing to be made.
A number of agents, keen to discuss possible transfers into Stamford Bridge, remain in a holding pattern while the Blues sort themselves out.
(Image: PA Wire)
Chelsea’s non-World Cup players return from their summer holidays this weekend and will spend around ten days at the club's Surrey HQ before they leave for a training camp in Australia.
Although they will only be having medical and fitness tests at Cobham, Chelsea chiefs want Sarri in place by the time they arrive.
The players that have been at Russia 2018 have been given staggered return times, dependent on when their countries left the competition.
(Image: Reuters)
While the Blues have been trying to unpick the situation surrounding Conte and Sarri, some players have already decided they want to move on.
Brazil winger Willian aims to join Barcelona in a £70million deal.
Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois, who has just a year left on his contract, has indicated a interest in joining Real Madrid, leaving Chelsea to explore the possibility of signing Roma's Brazil No1 Alisson.