Antonio Conte insists he wants to manage Chelsea for several years and confirmed plans to bring his family to London next season.

The 46-year-old has this week been linked with a return to Italy amid reports Inter Milan’s new Chinese owners were prepared to offer him in excess of £10million-a-season.

It had been suggested he was also homesick after struggling to settle in England but the club swiftly denied those rumours and Conte is instead eyeing up a long stay in west London after capping his side’s impressive season to date by being named Manager of the Year at last night’s London Football Awards.

“I am very happy for this experience because for me and my family it is incredible,” he told Standard Sport.

“For sure, in this season my wife and my daughter stayed in Italy but I hope they come and stay here also because I need them.

“Yes, I hope [I can manage here for years]. Usually, when you start a project with a new team you want to stay many years and to build something important with the club. For sure, to build you must work many years to have the opportunity to grow with your players and to try to win also because when you are the manager in a great club, the imperative is to try to win but also to play great football.

“It wasn’t easy for me when you arrive at the start of the season after a bad year. But I am pleased for the players because they showed me great commitment to fight and to come back very soon to fight for the title.

“The most important thing is the success of the club, the players and the manager. I was sure to arrive here and also to compete in this league with other good managers.

“Now, it is important to continue in this way because anything can happen until the end but we want to continue to stay on top of the table.”

Conte signed a three-year deal upon his appointment at Stamford Bridge last April and is in talks over an extension which would increase his current £6.5million-a-year salary as a reward for a remarkable debut campaign.

The Blues are ten points clear at the top of the Premier League and Conte believes his squad is mature enough to ensure complacency does not creep in over the final 12 matches.

“I have players that won a lot in their career and they have the right experience to face this type of situation,” he said.

“For sure, from now until the end, the pressure will be very high but we must live with this and we have good experience to face this situation.”

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante won London Player of the Year while Tottenham’s Dele Alli landed the London Young Player of the Year prize. Spurs Hugo Lloris took home the goalkeeper award as more than £200,000 was raised on the night for Willow, the only national charity providing Special Days for seriously ill 16-40-year-olds.

Toscafund Asset Management LLP is a proud sponsor of the London Football Awards. Toscafund is a leading multi-asset manager based in London with additional offices in Manchester and Greenwich, Connecticut. Go to londonfootballawards.org.