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Chelsea managerial target Maurizio Sarri drops biggest hint yet he's ready to leave Napoli

Sarri appears ready to leave Napoli with Chelsea a possible next destination: AFP
Sarri appears ready to leave Napoli with Chelsea a possible next destination: AFP

Maurizio Sarri appears ready to finally leave Napoli with a move to Chelsea looking closer than ever.

The 59-year-old coach has been linked with the Premier League side, with compatriot Antonio Conte set to leave Stamford Bridge despite winning the FA Cup this weekend.

Contract talks between Sarri and the club have stalled in recent weeks with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis saying this weekend that "time is up" for him to make a decision over his future at the Stadio San Paolo.

Following Sunday's 2-1 home victory over Crotone, which saw the Azzurri end the season with 91 points but finish as runners-up to Juventus, Sarri said: "Everything in life ends and it is better to finish things after writing a beautiful story. I don't know if I will stay, I have to talk about it with my family.

Sarri looks set to leave Napoli (Getty)
Sarri looks set to leave Napoli (Getty)

"The situation is complicated. You can't say you're ready to go and try again with this squad when you don't know that everyone will remain here. I don't know if the club will manage to keep the players who have release clauses when offers will come in from big clubs.

"What I do think is that I could not go directly to another Italian team, and that if I had to make a change I would prefer to go abroad."

Napoli led the championship at certain times during the recently-concluded campaign and were only cut adrift by champions Juve over the final few fixtures, with the final gap standing at four points.

Former Empoli boss Sarri, who joined Napoli in June 2015, added: "We devoted so much to getting more than 90 points and until now that's all I'd been thinking about.

"Tomorrow (Monday) I will talk to my family and work out what is the best thing to do. I know the president needs an answer from me as soon as possible as he needs to plan."

Conte looks set to leave Chelsea (Getty)
Conte looks set to leave Chelsea (Getty)

On Sunday De Laurentiis said: "Is Sarri staying? You'll have to ask him. He's never wanted to answer, always leaving it to his agent.

"For me the deadline has passed, time is up. We have to move forward. I'm not saying he'll leave but there is a release clause and we'll see what happens."