Italy boss Antonio Conte has been heavily linked with taking over the top job at Chelsea FC this summer. The former Juventus coach is reportedly intent on a reunion with France superstar Paul Pogba should he take over the reins at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will be in the market for a new manager in the summer and Antonio Conte has featured heavily in the backpages as one of the top targets to take over the reigns from Guus Hiddink. The former Juventus boss is currently managing Italy but is said to be keen on a return to club management after his contract expires at the culmination of the 2016 European Championship in France.
As reported by Mail Online, talks have already taken place between Chelsea and Conte in January, and are set to resume in March. The report claims that the 46-year-old recently turned down an offer from the Italian football federation (FIGC) to discuss a new deal beyond the Euros.
The most interesting claim in the report is that Conte handed the Blues a list of players he would want at Stamford Bridge should he take over and Juventus superstar Paul Pogba is on the top of that list. The 22-year-old is also sought by the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, and there will be no shortage of clubs vying for his signature in the summer.
The list also includes Atlético Madrid’s promising young Uruguayan centre-back José Giménez, as well as PSG duo Marco Verratti and Ezequiel Lavezzi. The latter is set to be closing in on a move to the Chinese Super League, hence making him a difficult prospect for Chelsea.
Antonio Conte to target £70m Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba if he becomes Chelsea manager https://t.co/bBjwlDnIPe
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) February 10, 2016
Signing Pogba would require a miracle
The France international is one of the most sought-after footballers in the world at the moment and it would take nothing short of a miracle for Chelsea FC to bring him to London. Not only are the Blues unlikely to participate in next season’s Champions League, but they might also have to be wary about committing what will be a huge amount in light of the stadium expansion and the loss of revenue as a consequence of not being involved in Europe’s premier club competition.
Similarly, Marco Verratti is an unrealistic target while Atlético Madrid are unlikely to part with a player who appears to be the natural heir to their current defensive stalwart Diego Godín. Antonio Conte will find such top players extremely difficult to sign if he takes over as manager in the summer, not least because of the fact that he will have to focus his attention on the Euros for most of the summer.
