Despite his successful first season at Chelsea, Antonio Conte is reportedly ‘ready to quit’ the club.
According to Duncan Castles in the Daily Record, the Italian has yet to sign an extension to his contract at Stamford Bridge due to being at odds with the club’s hierarchy over the strategy in place for next season. It’s said that he’s made it known that he could leave the club should a number of his main concerns not be addressed.
Conte is keen to win the Champions League as a manager, something he feels cannot be achieved without significant improvements to his current working conditions at Chelsea.
One of his main issues is that he feels significant investment is needed in his squad, which he believes is currently not strong enough to defend their status as English champions while chasing European glory. The report claims that sources close to the 47-year-old have indicated he feels he is “owed” this after the Chelsea board failed to deliver his top transfer targets in his first two windows as the club’s manager.
As well as this, Conte is said to have requested a direct line of communication with Roman Abramovich and power over the appointment of coaching staff and the club’s academy. He is also said to have requested improved financial terms.
If Conte were to leave, it’s unclear who Chelsea would appoint as his replacement. The report points to Thomas Tuchel, who recently ruled himself out of the Southampton job after leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.
