Luis Enrique is in pole position for the Chelsea job when, as is expected, Antonio Conte leaves at the end of the season.

The Mail on Sunday have learned that the former Barcelona boss has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Conte within Stamford Bridge.

Enrique's availability — he left the Nou Camp in the summer — has elevated him above the likes of Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri and Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone, both of whom have two years to run on their deals.

Luis Enrique is the front runner to replace Chelsea boss Antonio Conte this summer

Enrique hasn't managed since leaving his post as Barcelona boss at the end of last season

It is thought that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich would prefer not to be involved in a battle to extract a contracted manager from their current club.

Enrique, who won two La Liga titles and the Champions League in three seasons at Barcelona, could be installed before June.

There is an acceptance that Conte will either resign or be sacked come May and it is thought his fate was sealed over his handling of Diego Costa, last season's top goalscorer, who quit the club after a fall-out with the manager.

The Italian has also clashed with the hierarchy over transfer policy. It is understood he was not happy when Nemanja Matic was sold to rivals Manchester United in July, even though he had given the green light for the midfielder to leave after securing the signing of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco.

Enrique won two La Liga titles and the Champions League in three seasons at Barcelona

That tension has remained and it is said that Conte has again been frustrated by January dealings.

Chelsea will attempt to secure the signing of Roma forward Edin Dzeko on Monday, to add to the signing of Ross Barkley, and hope the end of the transfer window eases relations between Conte and director Marina Granovskaia.

Conte's perception that he has not been fully backed in the transfer market since winning the league is borne out by the tension at the club during this transfer window and in the summer.

Current Chelsea boss Conte is expected to leave the Premier League champions this year

And the departure of Michael Emenalo as technical director last year has only exacerbated the issue, as Emenalo previously acted as a firewall between the board and the manager.

Granovskaia has been described by previous managers as effectively the voice of Abramovich and one former employee commented: 'If you go against Marina, you're going against Roman, which means you're finished.'

But Conte, whose side take on Newcastle in the FA Cup on Sunday, says he will never temper what he says in press conferences, even though his comments about his lack of control over transfers have caused tension with the board of directors.

Conte's comments about a lack of control over transfers have caused tension with the board

'I'm this way. I'm not a diplomatic man, you can see this,' he said. 'You know me very well — I'm not a diplomatic man. But at the same time, I'm very honest. When you are honest with yourself and with others, not one thing can make me fail.

'I'm sure that if I tried to change myself, I should stop my career when I was a footballer or to stop my career in this moment when I'm a coach. An honest person speaks very clear. I prefer to be honest and tell the truth in every moment. I hate the fake person.'

Chelsea have offered £17.5m for Roma full-back Emerson Palmieri with a further £5.2m in bonuses plus £25m for Dzeko. Palmieri, 23, has agreed to join but Bosnian striker Dzeko, 31, wants a two-and-a-half-year deal, with Chelsea offering 18 months.