Maurizio Sarri has been linked with replacing Antonio Conte as Chelsea manager this summer, and one of his Napoli players all but confirmed the rumours as true.

Sarri, 59, has reportedly been holding talks with the Blues for a number of weeks, and though he remains contracted to Napoli, the Serie A club have already hired Carlo Ancelotti as their new head coach.

2 Sarri has been linked with replacing Conte since before the end of the season

The Italian has been expected to leave the San Paolo since Ancelotti’s appointment, although disagreements between Chelsea and Napoli over the release clause in Sarri’s contract stalled talks between the two clubs.

However, there has been progression over the last few days, and it appears Sarri is on the verge of being announced as the Blues’ new boss, with Conte to be sacked despite winning the Premier League and FA Cup in his two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

But while we must wait for official confirmation, one of Napoli’s players all but confirmed Sarri is becoming Chelsea manager.

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Kalidou Koulibaly, the centre-back, spoke to talkSPORT after Senegal’s 2-1 defeat of Poland in the World Cup, admitting he will miss Sarri but backing him to bring a great style of football to Chelsea.

“They [Chelsea] can expect nice football because he is a very good coach.

“I’m disappointed that he leaves like this but we have now a big coach [Carlo Ancelotti]. We know we can win something with him.

“I hope he will win something with Chelsea because he’s a nice coach.

2 Koulibaly helped Senegal to a 2-1 defeat of Poland to get their World Cup campaign off to the perfect start

“When a coach like this comes he needs time. So I think they have to give him time because he will change the football of Chelsea, I think.

“At Napoli we enjoyed it very much as players and the supporters enjoyed it very much. At Chelsea I think it will be the same.”

Koulibaly has been linked with joining Sarri at Chelsea, along with fellow Napoli stars Dries Mertens, Jorginho and Elseid Hysaj.