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Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri is the latest Italian to be linked with the Chelsea job – and the Blues have until May 31 to get the top coach in Serie A for £7m.

Antonio Conte is set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and the search is already under way for his replacement.

Gazzetta dello Sport claims Chelsea have already made contact with the former bank worker, 59, whose attacking style has been compared to Pep Guardiola.

(Image: REUTERS)

His contract has a buyout clause of £7m between now and the end of the season – and Napoli presdient Aurelio De Laurentiis wants to sign a new deal and remove the clause. Negotiations started in the last window and will continue.

De Laurentiis told Corriere dello Sport: “Sarri is a wonderful person and a great coach. I am not worried that anyone will take him away also because whoever wants him has to put €8m on the table.

"However I would like to remove this clause and on February when we meet, I will tell him. Maurizio has ethics. He was born in Naples and has returned to win. I don't consider this experience as a stage in his career. I adore Sarri – for me he is the best in the world.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

"I wish and hope he will be our coach for a long time. I chose him – he has a Stakanovite work ethic. He speaks only about preparing for game. He is like a 20-year-old who is always growing and evolving. He still has a lot of improving to do.”

Former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique and Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid are other candidates to take the Chelsea job in the summer.