Antonio Conte today admitted for the first time that it is a possibility he won’t be in charge of Chelsea next season.

Chelsea are understood to have started looking at potential coaches to take over in case the Italian leaves in the summer. Juventus and Napoli are already making an effort to ensure two of their targets, Massimiliano Allegri and Maurizio Sarri respectively, don’t go to Stamford Bridge.

Conte, who is admired by Paris Saint-Germain, still has over a year left on his contract but sources suggest his time at the club is running out.

When asked about his future today, he said: “Everything is possible. I have another year of the contract, but as you know very well in football everything is possible.

"In one moment you stay here or another moment you stay at another place, or another person replaces you in your job.

“I know very well that football is this. Our job is very difficult, everything can change. From the start of the season people have been repeating the same question. At one point I have to tell you ‘okay, if you want to sack me, it’s okay’. But I’m always telling the same things.

“For this club it’s normal. For a manager of this club it’s normal to have this type of situation. This is the history of this club for the manager. I have a lot of experience to live with this type of situation.

“But something is strange that after the first game we lost against Burnley (they lost 3-2) the press pushed quickly to sack me for another coach. At other clubs this doesn’t happen.

“You must trust in your work, trust in what we’re doing, what we have done in the last season and a half. But in football anything can happen, we must be ready. But never give up.”

Conte is the 10th different manager Chelsea have hired since owner Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

When asked if he was content at the club given all the speculation, he added: “Yes, I’m happy. I’m enjoying my period here. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t simple for me.

“This is my first experience in another country. For sure I’m enjoying my experience, to stay in England and live this atmosphere, to work with my players.

“I have another year of contract and in this case I think the club has to decide to send me away. We have started our big work here together with the players and with the club.

“When you start work you need time to improve your work, to create a solid basis. Football now is very difficult to stay for many years for one club, especially in England now.

The situation has changed. Before the manager was in charge for many, many years, but now in England the era of deciding to sack a manager early is coming.”

Despite denials from Conte and Chelsea, the doubts around Chelsea’s position have been circulated for months.

Conte won the League and reached the FA Cup Final last term, but asked if the continued speculation shocks him, he replied: “No, I am not surprised.

“We are not talking about my work, this is the history of Chelsea and that’s very clear. For this reason, it’s normal. The press is used to speak a lot about Chelsea, the manager, it doesn’t change.

“I don’t ask to change the situation. My only problem is to continue to work, to do my job, be professional, have good results, then to continue my idea.”