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The job might not be vacant yet but Chelsea are expecting to relieve Antonio Conte of his duties at the Blues this summer with a change of direction for the club.

It might seem harsh on a manager that won the Premier League in his first season and then clinched the FA Cup, but the breakdown in relationship with the board might well be his downfall.

If the Italian does make way this summer then there have been a couple of names connected with the role, including former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, however Maurizio Sarri has appeared as the favourite following his departure from the Napoli dug out.

Yet while Carlo Ancelotti may now be installed as his successor, the 59-year-old remains on the pay roll in Naples. After Chelsea refused to pay a release clause in his contract before its expiry date on May 31, the Italian's fate has been cast into uncertainty.

He had previously been a target for Zenit St. Petersburg, who have now looked elsewhere for a new manager. The Blues could still make a move for the Napoli coach if they can find a way around paying an expensive fee to the Serie A club for his services.

Roman Abramovich would also have to compensate Conte to free up the hot seat at Stamford Bridge leading to a reluctance to increase costs.

However, if Sarri does make the switch to Chelsea, then how would the club look under the Italian and which players could he look to buy or bring in on loan.

Formation

The Napoli boss likes to use a 4-3-3 formation, similar to that of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. With a high press that starts from the very front, Sarri's success in Serie A has been built on winning the ball back quickly and efficiently.

That allows the front three to be fluid in their style and the full-backs to overlap with the defensive-minded player looking to tuck in and protect the defence.

Sarri's attacking style is something that has won plaudits during his time in Italy and a style of play that Chelsea fans have been calling out to see play.

Conte's more defensive style was certainly effective at times and in key games got themselves three points, while it was effective against Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

But Sarri's formation and more fluid style could well be the key to getting Chelsea back on the front foot instead of 'suffering without the ball', as Conte often said Chelsea had to do last season.

New signings

The one that has been impressing the most is Jorginho in the middle of the park. However, the 26-year-old is in high demand with Manchester City believed to be leading the race for him.

"Jorginho is at an important point in his career, also with the national team because [new CT Roberto] Mancini has faith in him," his agent Joao Santos admitted on Radio Crc.

"Guardiola is an excellent coach, but Napoli will decide Jorginho’s future. He has a two-year contract, but Napoli is a business.

"[Aurelio] De Laurentiis is a businessman and a great President, he’ll decide. I’m in Istanbul right now, by May 30 I’ll meet [sporting director Cristiano] Giuntoli to understand Jorginho’s future. I repeat, officially nothing has come in."

Another Napoli star on the list is defender Kalidou Koulibaly. The 26-year-old is rumoured to be on his way out of the Serie A club with Manchester United, AC Milan and Chelsea interested.

Meanwhile, Leon Bailey is one of the hottest targets around at the moment with the 20-year-old winger reportedly wanted by Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

However, he does have an affiliation with Chelsea and hopefully that connection could swing the transfer in their favour should they go after the Jamaican.

Fresh reports indicate Robert Lewandowski is ready to leave Bayern Munich and has been linked with an £100m move to Stamford Bridge.

Players he must keep

There is one player at the very top of the list that is key to the way Chelsea would play and the one man who Sarri must look to keep at the club.

Eden Hazard is the standout attacking threat for Chelsea and for Sarri's way to work at the Blues keeping the talismanic Belgian will be paramount.

The idea of playing under an attacking manager who likes to play fluid football may well help keep Hazard at the club, even with Europe League football next season.

Hazard was critical of the way that Chelsea played against Manchester City in the 1-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, while at times the style of Conte's play didn't really suit Hazard.

The other question mark is of course Thibaut Courtois, who only has another year left on his contract. If the Blues can convince him to put pen to paper, along with Hazard, then it would go someway to proving they are going in the right direction.

(Image: BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

The loanees he could use

If Sarri does get the job at the Blues then he would have a plethora of talent to pick from of those that spent the 2017/18 season out on loan.

The main one of those that could get their chance is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. In Sarri's formation, the England international could fit perfectly into one of the midfield spots and become a box-to-box midfielder that really shines on both sides of the ball.

While Mason Mount has proven his talent in the Eredivisie, another loan might be on the cards for the youngster, getting Premier League experience at another club or dropping into the Championship.

Michy Batshuayi could also fight for his starting spot again, with the future over Alvaro Morata becoming more unsure following recent pictures of him in Italy with his agent.

Possible starting XI

Courtois, Alonso, Christensen, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Hazard, Bailey, Batshuayi.

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