Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri, reports Sky Sports.
Sarri has been identified as Chelsea’s first choice candidate if they sack Antonio Conte this summer.
Conte has endured two whirlwind years at Stamford Bridge but did at least manage to sign-up off the season with the FA Cup.
Chelsea will reportedly be forced into forking out €20m (£17.5m) in compensation if they sack Conte, as the Italian has no intentions of walking away.
Sarri has a £7m release clause in his current Napoli deal but the Blues will not match that and will instead wait for it to expire at the end of the month.
The 59-year-old already has an offer on the table from Russian giants Zenit, who are looking for a new manager in the wake of Roberto Mancini’s departure.
Napoli already have former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti lined up but are waiting to sort Sarri’s future before officially appointing the Italian.
Sarri has transformed Napoli in the last two seasons and the Serie A outfit arguably play some of the most eye-catching football on the planet.
Napoli finished the season with 91 points but still only finished second to Juventus, a record in Italian top-flight football.
