Conte’s next move closely watched
Chelsea are watching Antonio Conte’s next move, with the Italian’s compensation package yet to be agreed and uncertainty hanging over the managerial positions at three of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Conte has already been linked to Manchester United and Real Madrid, while he is also a potential target for Bayern Munich following the German club’s poor start to the season.
Chelsea sacked Conte three months ago but have yet to agree severance terms. Under his contract, the 49-year-old would be due more than £9 million ($18 million), but Chelsea have tried to argue that he contributed to his own dismissal and are reluctant to agree to a full payout.
The matter could go to court if both sides refuse to back down but the impasse may also be impacted by whether or not United see Conte as a potential mid-season successor to Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho’s job was saved by United’s second-half fightback against Newcastle United, but the Portuguese wants public backing from the club’s owners and must take his team to Chelsea after the international break.
Under the terms of his Chelsea deal, Conte would forgo any compensation owed to him from the time he took over at another English club but that is not thought to apply if he goes overseas. That means taking the United job before the New Year could cost Conte at least £5 million.
Zinedine Zidane had been the favourite to take over at United if Mourinho were to be sacked but the Frenchman’s agent, Alain Migliaccio, has attempted to distance his client from the role.
Sources in Germany have also claimed Zidane would be high on Bayern’s list of candidates if they were to part company with Niko Kovac.
Manchester United’s options to replace Mourinho before the end of the season would be limited, as Tottenham Hotspur are confident Mauricio Pochettino would not leave midcampaign. Conte is in the rare position of being a top-class manager who is out of work, although the nature of his fallout at Chelsea would be a concern to United.
His record of winning the Premier League and FA Cup during two seasons at Chelsea, and the fact he got the best out of Paul Pogba at Juventus, would, however, be of interest.
It is unclear what Conte’s intentions are but he will soon be in demand.
Spanish reports have claimed he would be considered by Real Madrid if the European champions sack Julen Lopetegui. Conte turned down an approach from Real during the off-season because he was still at Chelsea. But Real have completed a run of four games without a victory or even a goal, and Lopetegui’s job could well be on the line when they meet Barcelona on October 28.