Sarri set to replace Conte as Chelsea coach

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Chelsea has sacked Antonio Conte and reportedly has Maurizio Sarri, formerly at Napoli, lined up to replace him as the club's new head coach.

Owner Roman Abramovich was hoping that Conte might find another appointment -- and therefore save the club from having to pay out on the Italian's contract.

However, it now seems that The Blues will have to pay Conte his full nine million pounds (12 million US dollars) compensation bill.

Unless an agreement can be struck, Chelsea will have to pay the 48 year-old for the final year of his contract that was only extended on July 18 last year.

Conte claimed the Premier League title in the 2016-17 season and added the FA Cup to his honors last season. However, Chelsea finished fifth in the league last season, outside the Champions League positions.

Incidentally, Conte leaves with the best win percentage (65.1 percent) of any of Chelsea's managers in the Premier League era.

59-year-old former banker Sarri will be Chelsea's ninth full-time manager since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

Antonio Conte, outgoing manager of Chelsea, poses with the Emirates FA Cup trophy following his sides win in The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. /VCG File Photo

Meanwhile, former Chelsea legend John Terry, who left after the league title winning campaign, posted “Thank You Boss” on Instagram alongside a photo of the two of them holding the Premier League trophy.

“Great man, Great manager. I wish you every success in the future” he wrote.

Sarri has been a favorite to succeed his compatriot after impressing as manager of Serie A side Napoli, which has replaced him with former Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Sarri, who split his time between banking and playing football before he took up coaching aged 40, has not won a major honor in three years at Napoli but has guided the club to finishes of second, third and second again.

The chainsmoking former Empoli manager -- who will have to restrain himself on the touchline in England where smoking is banned -- was named Serie A Coach of the Year in 2016-17.

Napoli is also expecting compensation of around 4.5 million pounds (5.93 million US dollars) for Sarri, who is under contract even though he is no longer their coach.

He is believed to have agreed to bring former Chelsea favorite Gianfranco Zola -- whose managerial career has stalled after a series of failures -- along as one of his backroom staff.

Sarri has also presented a list of players he would like to sign.

They reportedly include Brazil-born Italy international midfielder Jorginho from Napoli, CSKA Moscow's Russian playmaker Aleksandr Golovin and Italian defender Daniele Rugani from Juventus, the side that edged Napoli in the Serie A title race.

(With input from agency)