Conte confirms he’s 100% set to stay with Chelsea

LONDON: Antonio Conte has incredibly confirmed he is 100% set to stay on as Chelsea boss, despite talk of him heading back to Italy.

The Blues chief has been a subject of speculation that he would sign a megamoney deal at Inter Milan, but he looks set to stay put at Stamford Bridge.

Conte has revealed he wants to stay at the club in order to take over English football, as he eyes a league-FA Cup double after winning the English Premier League already in his debut season.

When asked if he would 100% be staying at Chelsea, Conte replied: “Yes.

“We have started to do our work. We have to improve next season and find the right solution.”

The famous double could be secured within a fortnight against Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

And Conte firmly believes the Premier League champions can improve even further in 2017-18.

The Italian said: “They can get better. “We’ve worked together only for nine months and I think if you continue with these players you can improve a lot now they know my ideas.

“I know them, I know the characteristics of my players and we can improve.”

There had been increasing talk that Conte would up sticks and head to Inter Milan – who are willing to make him the joint-highest paid boss in football, at an eye-watering £20mil (RM112mil)-a-year.

Inter were also willing to hand Conte a £125mil (RM700mil) transfer kitty this summer, but fortunately for Chelsea fans, the Italian looks set to build a dynasty in west London.

And TheTelegraphclaim Roman Abramovich will make the Italian head coach the best-paid boss in the club’s history and is offering 2015 Player of the Year Eden Hazard a deal worth £300,000 (RM2mil)-a-week.

Moreover, the Blues owner will bankroll a £200mil (RM1bil) summer spending spree.

Conte would be offered a staggering £13mil (RM73mil)-a-year to leave Chelsea and oversee the Inter revolution in the summer.

And, while Abramovich is not prepared to match that amount, he will ensure the Italian overtakes Arsene Wenger and Juergen Klopp in the Premier League managerial earnings list.

One of the former Juventus boss’ major gripes at Stamford Bridge has been a lack of control over transfer activity.

However, he will have extra money available – on top of the £60mil (RM336mil) raked in from the sale of Oscar to Shanghai SIPG.

With the future of Diego Costa still unclear, Conte may have to dip into the market for a new centreforward.

Romelu Lukaku is a potential target should the need arise, while Virgil van Dijk could also move to Stamford Bridge in the summer as Chelsea look for a new defender. N’Golo Kante may have swept up all the individual awards this season, but it’s been another sensational season for Hazard.

So much so that Zinedine Zidane has made the Belgian his No. 1 target.

And Abramovich will move to keep the Blues’ No. 10 with a significant wage increase, plus the promise of a better chance to compete for the Ballon d’Or. — The Sun, London