Chelsea News: Blues considering former player to replace Antonio Conte

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Updated: March 9, 2018
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Antonio Conte continues to move closer to the exit doors at Stamford Bridge and any mishap against Barcelona in the upcoming Champions League second leg might well prove to be the final nail in the coffin for the Italian.

Conte delivered the Premier League in his first season in charge of the Blues. The Londoners, however, failed to mount any serious defence of their title and currently are fighting for a place in the Champions League next season.

Currently five points off the top four and with nine matches to go. The home stretch can be a do or die for Italian and his future in London.

Despite tactically masterminding a brilliant 1-1 draw against, Conte was heavily for how Chelsea played against Manchester City and Manchester United. The former Italian international has also been ripped in the media for how he has used Eden Hazard in these games.

Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois has also openly questioned his tactics and Hazard himself has been found complaining after he was played as a striker where he felt he couldn’t contribute to the best of his abilities.

Also read: CONFIRMED: Barcelona suffer injury blow in midfield ahead of Chelsea clash

With the Italian unable to get on the same page as Chelsea’s board in terms of transfer deals are concerned, there are now serious question marks raised on his future at Stamford Bridge.

Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has time and again emerged as favourite to take over the reins at the club should Conte depart. However, according to recent reports, the Chelsea hierarchy are also looking at other names.

Slavisa Jokanovic?

One of the most surprising names to be thrown in for the race to be Chelsea’s new man at the helm is Slavisa Jokanovic. The Serbian is currently in charge of Chelsea’s West London neighbours Fulham in the Championship looking to mount a serious challenge for a return to the Premier League.

Jokanovic, who played for the Blues between 2000 and 2002 has the Cottagers five points off an automatic promotion spot and has earned rave reviews for his work at Fulham this season. He had earlier helped Watford back to the Premier League in 2015 but wasn’t in charge of their first season back in the top division of English football after failing to agree to a new deal with the Hornets.

Respectfully saluting my Serbian brother Slavisa JOKANOVIC coach of FULHAM whose team plays amazing fascinating football after over 30 passes patiently being completed with goal scored while opponents chasing shadows pic.twitter.com/a7OTpW7mfP

— MICHOcoach (@michocoach) March 7, 2018

The former Chelsea man then went on to take charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv where he led the side to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in 11 years. He returned to England in December 2015 to take charge at Craven Cottage.

Jokanovic seems a rank wild card when it comes to names billed up to replace Conte. However, with Abramovich having knowledge of Jokanovic and having already made a similar move of appointing Roberto Di Matteo in the past, this might well come true.

For the Serbian, whilst a challenge to bring Fulham back to the Premier League and leading them out in their first campaign back will be tempting, a return to Chelsea and a chance to bring them back to the top of the Premier League should prove to be an offer too good to put down.